That Nameless Summer Chapter 31

bond

The bell for the class meeting had just fallen, and the head teacher’s words were like an unexpected piece of ice, smashing into the warmth of the classroom: “Adjust the key seats, and Ling Qingye will go to the middle of the first row to drive the learning rhythm in the front row.”

Song Li’s hand holding his chin suddenly stopped, and the pen on his fingertips rolled down on the table, making a crisp sound.He didn’t pick it up, but just stared at the edge of the table – where Ling Qingye’s elbow had just rubbed, there was still a bit of coolness left.Ling Qingye’s fingertips holding the pen tightened, and his knuckles turned white, but he didn’t say a word. When he stood up, the hem of his school uniform swept over the edge of the table, without taking anything with him, and he was as clean as if he had never sat down here.

The commotion in the classroom gradually subsided, and Song Li watched Ling Qingye walking towards the first row holding a stack of books.His back was straight and his steps were steady without any hesitation, but Song Li happened to notice that when he turned around, his eyes swept over him quickly, as fast as clouds blown away by the wind, leaving no trace.

“Why are you standing there stunned?” The head teacher knocked on the blackboard, “Song Li, pick up the pen and listen attentively.”

Song Li bent down to pick up the pen, his fingertips were cold.In the past, when Ling Qingye was sitting next to him, if he dropped his pen, that person would always bend down to pick it up first, and when he handed it over, his fingertips would occasionally touch, with a slight warmth.But now, across most of the classroom, he could only watch Ling Qingye sitting down in the first row, straightening his back and keeping distance from the surrounding classmates, like a lighthouse on an isolated island, bright but far away.

The first class after the seat adjustment was mathematics. The teacher wrote complex derivation formulas on the blackboard. Song Li was a little distracted while listening.In the past, Ling Qingye would quietly push the notebook towards him, with the key points marked clearly in red pen, and occasionally touch him lightly with his elbow to remind him to concentrate.But now, he could only look at Ling Qingye’s back through the crowd, and listen to his clear and calm voice when answering questions, feeling empty in his heart, as if a piece of it had been taken away.

The bell rang for recess, and Song Li was pulled out by his classmates on the basketball team. When he passed the first row, his steps subconsciously slowed down.Ling Qingye was lowering his head to organize his books. His profile was clean and sharp. The sun fell on the top of his hair, giving it a light golden light.Song Li wanted to say something to him, but he swallowed the words when he reached his lips – separated by so many desks and chairs, so many classmates, those unspoken concerns seemed to become difficult to speak.

“Brother Li, let’s go!” Zhao Peng patted him on the shoulder, “If you wait any longer, you won’t have time to warm up.”

Song Li nodded, turned around and walked out, but couldn’t help but glance back from the corner of his eye.Ling Qingye just raised his head, and their eyes collided in the air, like electricity flashing across. Song Li subconsciously looked away and walked out of the classroom quickly.

In physical education class, Song Li was a little absent-minded in his shooting movements and missed several shots.He remembered that Ling Qingye was like this when he was a child. He would sit on the steps of the playground and watch him play. When he got tired, he would hand him a bottle of warm water.At that time, they were neighbors and best friends. There was no distance between seats, no secrets hidden in their hearts, only pure companionship.But then the Ling family suddenly moved away, like a silent farewell, which made that memory covered in dust.

When the school bell rang, Song Li packed his schoolbag very slowly.He looked at the empty seat next to him. The table was clean without a trace of debris. Ling Qingye was always tidy and would not leave even a pen refill.Just like him, he is cool and self-possessed, never leaving unnecessary traces and never showing his emotions easily.

When he walked out of the classroom, Song Li saw Ling Qingye standing by the window at the end of the corridor, carrying his schoolbag and looking at the parasol trees outside the window.

The afterglow of the setting sun fell on him, stretching his shadow very long, revealing an indescribable loneliness.Song Li knew that Ling Qingye’s loneliness was hidden in his bones – his adopted status, his gay parents, and his mother’s unexpected death when he was seventeen years old, making him a complete orphan.Song Li knew these things, but never dared to mention them easily, just like Ling Qingye didn’t know that the two remarriages he had experienced in recent years, and his stepfather’s cold eyes and meanness, had made him accustomed to disguise himself with indifference.

Song Li hesitated for a moment, then walked over.”The third question, I don’t understand the structure of the auxiliary line.” He said, trying to be as calm as possible to avoid appearing deliberate.

Ling Qingye turned around, with no emotion in his eyes, but still nodded: “I’ll tell you.” He leaned against the window, took out a pen and started calculating quickly in his notebook.His voice was kept low to avoid being heard by passing classmates. His warm breath brushed against Song Li’s ears, making the tips of Song Li’s ears feel slightly hot.

The sunset gradually set, and the afterglow passed through the window, casting overlapping light and shadow on the two of them.Song Li looked at Ling Qingye’s side face as he spoke seriously about the topic, and suddenly felt that even though they were separated by more than half the classroom, the bond between them had never been truly broken.Those concerns hidden deep in my heart, those unspoken concerns, all flowed quietly in this silent explanation.

After finishing the topic, the two of them walked downstairs side by side, silent all the way.When he reached the fork in the alley, Ling Qingye suddenly stopped: “Study tomorrow morning. I’ll be in the classroom ten minutes early.”

“What for?” Song Li raised his eyebrows.

“I’ll help you with math.” Ling Qingye’s tone was calm, but with a determination that could not be refused, “It’s convenient to sit in the first row and you won’t be disturbed.”

Song Li looked at him, and his heart suddenly warmed up.He knew that Ling Qingye seemed to be cold, but in fact, he cared more than anyone else.Even if the seats are moved, he is still approaching him and caring for him in his own way, just like he did when he was a child.

“Okay.” Song Li nodded, watching Ling Qingye’s back disappear into the dusk, and unconsciously clenched the schoolbag strap with his fingertips.

After returning home, Song Li sat in front of his desk, and his mind was full of Ling Qingye’s appearance when he gave the lecture.He knew that the distance between the seats could be stretched, but the distance in his heart was getting closer and closer.Those throbbings hidden in the bottom of my heart, those unspoken thoughts, are quietly fermenting in this alienated relationship, waiting for the day when time will reveal them.

Ling Qingye returned to the empty old house, sat on the sofa, took out his mobile phone, and opened the chat box with Song Li.He hesitated for a long time and typed the next line: “Get there early tomorrow.”

There is no unnecessary embellishment, but with his unique seriousness.After the transmission was successful, he put down his phone, leaned on the sofa, and looked out the window at the night.He knew that his heart had long been unknowingly occupied by that young man who was cold on the outside and hot on the inside.Even if his seat is moved, he will try his best to stay close to him and protect him, just like he did when he was a child.

The night grew darker and the city fell into silence.The two teenagers, separated by a few alleys, had the same unspoken feelings in their hearts. In this alienated relationship, they quietly got closer and slowly warmed up.Those bonds hidden deep in the heart are like invisible threads, pulling them towards each other across distance and pain.