That Nameless Summer Chapter 8
byThe Person I Like
During Tuesday’s Chinese class, Guo Guangchen walked into the classroom carrying a stack of printed papers. Chalk dust danced in the sunlight. This period will be a group discussion. Groups of four, choose your own teammates. A representative from each group will speak in twenty minutes.
The classroom instantly erupted into chaos, the sound of desks and chairs moving rising and falling. Song Li lay slumped on his desk, watching the people around him swarm into groups. He didn’t even bother to lift his eyelids—it didn’t matter which group he joined; he was just there to make up the numbers anyway.
Song Li, join us! a boy in the front row shouted to him.
He was just about to wave his hand in refusal when he heard Ling Qingye’s voice ring out beside his ear: Join my group.
Song Li looked up and met those calm, rippleless eyes. Ling Qingye had already cleared his desk, his notebook spread open in the middle with two empty seats left beside him. Song Li didn’t think much of it and propped himself up. Sure, it’s all the same to me anyway.
Just as he finished speaking, Xu Jiangyou ran over clutching her Chinese textbook, followed by a girl with a ponytail—her roommate, Qi Yuan. Li-zi! Ling-xueba! Let us join you, that makes four!
Song Li raised an eyebrow. You’re not looking for Qin Jiangwen?
He’s with the people from the Competition Class, Xu Jiangyou said dismissively, pulling Lin Weiwei down to sit. Besides, it’s been a while since Weiwei and I had a discussion together. It’s a good chance to catch up.
Qi Yuan smiled and chimed in, Exactly. Jiangyou said there’s a top student in your group, so we came to cling to his thighs.
Ling Qingye didn’t say anything. He simply pushed his notebook toward the center and tapped his pen lightly on the paper. The topic is analyzing the emotional thread of Xi Ji Xuan Zhi. Let’s divide the work.
Song Li decisively raised his hand. I’ll be responsible for staying silent.
Get lost, Xu Jiangyou said, poking his arm. You’re responsible for finding the detailed descriptions in the text. Ling-xueba will outline the framework, while Yuan-yuan and I summarize the emotions.
With the work divided, the classroom soon grew quiet, leaving only the rustling sound of pens moving across paper. Song Li frowned at the line in the textbook: In the courtyard stands a loquat tree, planted by my wife the year she died; now it has grown tall, its canopy like an umbrella. He couldn’t squeeze out a single word for a long time.
Ling Qingye caught sight of his troubled expression. He wrote three terms on the paper—longing, regret, things remain but people change—and pushed them in front of him. Find sentences centered around these three points.
Looking at that elegant handwriting, Song Li felt a sense of relief, though he remained stubborn. You should have said so earlier. I had already thought of those.
Ling Qingye looked up, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes, but he didn’t expose him.
Twenty minutes passed quickly. Guo Guangchen called on several groups to speak. When it was their turn, Xu Jiangyou volunteered to stand up. She presented the organized content with clear logic and even added her own insights at the end, earning a round of applause.
As she sat down, she nudged Song Li’s shoulder triumphantly. Well? Isn’t your big sister impressive?
Not bad. You didn’t embarrass me, Song Li scoffed. However, when he looked down, he saw Ling Qingye quietly place an orange candy on the corner of his desk.
During the lunch break, the canteen was bustling with people. Carrying his meal tray, Song Li immediately spotted Xu Jiangyou and Lin Weiwei sitting by the window, chatting animatedly. Qin Jiangwen sat alone on the other side with a simple meal of two dishes and a soup, holding a workbook in his hand.
Song Li nudged Ling Qingye’s arm and gestured toward Xu Jiangyou.
She has company, Ling Qingye said, his gaze sweeping past Qin Jiangwen’s direction. Let’s find a seat first.
Just as the two of them sat down, they saw Qin Jiangwen pack up his tray and walk toward Xu Jiangyou’s table. Xu Jiangyou’s eyes lit up when she saw him, and she immediately pulled out a chair. Qin Jiangwen, sit here! Yuan-yuan and I just finished talking.
Qin Jiangwen sat down. His gaze lingered on the sweet and sour pork ribs on Xu Jiangyou’s tray for two seconds before he spoke slowly. This dish was made well today.
Yeah, yeah! Do you want to try some? As Xu Jiangyou spoke, she picked up a piece and placed it in his bowl.
The tips of Qin Jiangwen’s ears turned red instantly. He lowered his head and took a mouthful of rice. Thanks.
Watching the interaction between the two, Qi Yuan gave Song Li a secret look, her shoulders shaking as she suppressed her laughter.
Song Li couldn’t help but let out a low laugh, only to have Ling Qingye stuff a piece of green vegetable into his mouth. Don’t talk while eating.
You can’t tell me what to do, Song Li mumbled while chewing the vegetable. However, while Ling Qingye was looking down to drink his soup, Song Li quietly moved the braised pork from his own bowl into Ling Qingye’s.
Ling Qingye paused and looked up at him.
What are you looking at? Song Li looked away. I don’t like it, and it’s a waste to throw it away, so I’m just feeding the dog.
Ling Qingye didn’t say anything. He simply ate the braised pork slowly, the corners of his mouth curving upward.
After Evening Self-study ended, the dormitory was filled with the faint scent of body wash. Liu Qiuhao was on the phone with his girlfriend, his voice sickeningly sweet. Song Li lay on his bed scrolling through game guides on his phone, while Ling Qingye sat at the desk looking at a computer screen.
Ling Qingye, Song Li suddenly spoke up. Do you think Qin Jiangwen has a crush on Xu Jiangyou?
Yes, Ling Qingye replied, his gaze never leaving the screen. It’s very obvious.
Then why doesn’t he confess? Song Li rolled over. That girl Xu Jiangyou looks carefree, but she’s actually quite sensitive. If he keeps wasting time like this, someone else will snatch her away sooner or later.
Ling Qingye turned his head to look at him. You care about them a lot?
I guess. We grew up together, after all, Song Li shrugged. I can’t just watch her crash and burn in a relationship.
Ling Qingye didn’t say anything else. He turned off the computer and lay down on his bed. The dormitory was left with only the sound of Liu Qiuhao’s low murmurs and the glow from Song Li’s phone screen.
After an unknown amount of time, Song Li’s phone ran out of battery. He fumbled around to get his charger but accidentally knocked a book off the desk. The sound of the book hitting the floor was exceptionally clear in the quiet dormitory. He flinched, afraid of waking the others.
Ling Qingye’s voice suddenly sounded, kept very low. I have a power bank. Do you want to use it?
Yeah. Song Li crawled down from his bed and walked to Ling Qingye’s desk. Ling Qingye had already turned on the desk lamp. Under the warm yellow light, his profile looked remarkably soft.
Song Li took the power bank, his fingertips accidentally brushing against Ling Qingye’s hand. It felt cool. Thanks, he whispered, turning to leave.
Song Li, Ling Qingye suddenly called out to him.
Hmm? Song Li looked back.
Ling Qingye’s gaze landed on his face and stayed there for a few seconds. His voice was as light as a sigh. Do you… have someone you like?
Song Li’s heart skipped a beat, and his cheeks instantly flushed hot. He looked into Ling Qingye’s eyes. Those eyes, which were usually cold and clear, seemed to be hiding stars right now, shining so brightly it made his heart race.
No, I don’t, he said, forcing himself to look away with feigned composure.
Ling Qingye didn’t say anything; he simply turned off the desk lamp. The dormitory fell back into darkness, with only the moonlight from outside peeking through the gaps in the curtains.
Song Li lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Ling Qingye’s question was like a pebble cast into his heart, stirring up a thousand waves.
Did he have someone he liked?
He didn’t know the answer himself. It was just that every time he saw Ling Qingye, his heart would accelerate for no reason. Every time they were close, he felt at peace. Every time he ate the orange candy Ling Qingye gave him, it tasted exceptionally sweet.
Were these feelings “liking”?
Song Li didn’t know, and he didn’t dare to think too deeply. He only knew that Ling Qingye was different to him.
They were both people forgotten by the world, yet they had found a sliver of warmth in each other.
Perhaps that was enough.
Song Li let out a soft sigh and closed his eyes. The moonlight from outside spilled gently across his face and across Ling Qingye’s bed.
The dormitory was silent, with only the sound of their steady breathing intertwining in the night like a gentle song.