MNL Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Entering the Door. You’re quite handsome.

Chapter 16: Entering the Door. You’re quite handsome.

The osmanthus tree at the school gate was always a bit slow. The other trees of the same period were already mostly bare, but it was just beginning to bloom, scattering flowers all over the ground every time it rained.

Class 104’s classroom was near the outside, closest to that area, and many people complained every time they had to sweep, but there was also a benefit: the faint fragrance in the air was always refreshing.

Liang Yin was an excellent language arts teacher. Her classes were never limited to just the content in the textbook; she often expanded on related extracurricular knowledge. When discussing how to write a good prose piece, Liang Yin used osmanthus flowers as an example. Hearing Liang Yin’s praise of osmanthus, a student asked, “Teacher, why do you like osmanthus flowers so much?”

Liang Yin had just finished teaching today’s article. Hearing this question, she was a little surprised. After a long while, she smiled gently and said, “Because, someone I like, likes them.”

The class was silent for two seconds, then everyone started to clamor and tease.

Seeing that they were getting more and more excited, Liang Yin coughed lightly and said, “Alright, quiet down, or we’ll attract the principal.”

So she had to use a louder voice than usual to stop the commotion.

Soon after, the bell rang to signal the end of class. Liang Yin left quickly, but before that, she gave Zheng Tong, the P.E. representative, two A4-sized sheets of paper with a list.

Cha Fei’ang stretched and leaned over, only to see “Sports Day Sign-Up Sheet” written on it.

“I heard that the National Day holiday starts right after the Sports Day. Finally, we can relax!”

“Worthy of being the 104’s little know-it-all; you really know everything.”

The sudden praise made Cha Fei’ang’s eyes narrow.

Giving courtesy for no reason…

Cha Fei’ang pinched Zheng Tong’s chin. “Speak, what do you need Grandpa Cha to help you with?”

Xu Jing glanced at them indifferently and continued to write his math problems.

“Alright, I can help you ask, but you have to buy me milk tea from the shop at the entrance.”

Zheng Tong was introverted. If he had to ask everyone what event they wanted to sign up for, he probably wouldn’t finish even by the time the Sports Day started. Now that Cha Fei’ang agreed to help, he was willing to pay for not just one cup of milk tea, but ten.

“No problem.”

Cha Fei’ang took the sign-up sheet, then remembered something and turned to ask Xu Jing, “By the way, Jing-ge, how’s Yan-shen’s leg? There’s a grade-level basketball competition at the Sports Day, and we have to play against Class Three next door.”

Xu Jing said simply, “He can’t play.”

“Ah, okay.”

“What are you looking at?”

Zheng Tong saw that Cha Fei’ang suddenly stopped moving, his eyes staring blankly at the corner over there.

“Shh, don’t talk,” Cha Fei’ang lowered his voice. “Look at Yan-shen’s side.”

Xu Jing followed his gaze and saw a girl standing at Mao Chengyu’s seat, bending over to ask Shen Yan a question.

Zheng Tong looked like he was making a fuss about nothing. “What’s so strange about that? With Yan-shen’s cheat-level grades, it’s normal for people to ask him questions, right?”

“What do you know? That’s Lin Xiyan. Haven’t you guys seen the forum?” Cha Fei’ang said, then felt it wasn’t enough, so he took out his phone from his pocket.

“Damn, how did you bring your phone to the classroom? Aren’t you afraid of it getting confiscated?”

“It’s okay, the old teacher is gone, and Beautiful Li won’t come early.” Cha Fei’ang put his phone on Xu Jing’s desk, pointed at the photo inside, and said, “Although the girl’s face isn’t showing, with those straight, long legs and beautiful long hair, I bet five bucks it’s definitely Lin Xiyan.”

Xu Jing’s expression was indifferent. Cha Fei’ang thought he wasn’t interested in this kind of thing, so he pouted and was about to take the phone back, but it was taken first.

The picture was blurry, probably taken in a bit of a rush. The photo only showed the boy’s profile, but the beautiful contours and high nose bridge allowed Xu Jing to confirm that it was Shen Yan. The girl beside him was slender and graceful, slightly tiptoeing to look at the test paper in his hand.

It looked like they were discussing a problem, but the posture was a bit intimate.

Xu Jing hummed very softly and returned the phone to Cha Fei’ang.

Shen Yan’s appearance was indeed very popular with girls, especially those standard peach blossom eyes, which were extremely bewitching when he smiled.

A showy peacock.

Xu Jing thought, he should have just left this person in the infirmary to fend for himself.

“Jing-ge.”

Xu Jing looked up and saw Cha Fei’ang looking at him with a suspicious expression.

“What?”

“Do you like Lin Xiyan?”

Xu Jing didn’t even bother to explain, coldly saying, “Get lost.”

Recently, because Shen Yan sprained his foot, he was shamelessly using the privileges of an injured person, treating Xu Jing like a servant every day. When he was thirsty, he wanted Xu Jing to get him water; when he was hungry, he wanted Xu Jing to get him food; he even wanted Xu Jing to submit his homework for him, and even needed Xu Jing to help him go to the bathroom. Especially when school was over, sometimes Xu Jing deliberately packed up slowly, but he leisurely put his bag aside and sat in the chair like a young master, waiting for Xu Jing.

Xu Jing felt that he was still too kind; he had actually taken care of this person so tirelessly for a week.

The dismissal bell had rung several minutes ago. Xu Jing, who had become accustomed to it, packed his things and stood up to walk to the other side, only to find the seat in the corner empty, and even the bag was gone.

Xu Jing was stunned for two seconds, his brain unable to react.

He left first?

He was doing the last math problem, thinking that Shen Yan would wait anyway, so he thought a bit longer.

The classroom was almost empty. Xu Jing’s face became more and more gloomy as he waited, and finally he pushed the chair away, picked up his bag, and went out the door.

However, he hadn’t walked far when a familiar shout came from behind, the tone very low, calling his name.

Xu Jing paused and turned his head.

He saw someone with a bag slung over his shoulder walking slowly towards him at the end of the corridor outside the classroom door.

Because of the lighting, Shen Yan’s face was dim and bright, but it still couldn’t hide those dazzling and deep features. His expression was faint, but the gaze meeting his was a bit scorching.

Xu Jing couldn’t help but walk two steps forward.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

The voice gradually woke Xu Jing up. He had just involuntarily stared at Shen Yan’s face.

Was he crazy?

Xu Jing withdrew his gaze and retorted, “Do you think I was waiting for you?”

Shen Yan remained noncommittal and said, “I don’t think the last math problem requires you to spend five minutes.”

Xu Jing was speechless. After a moment, he didn’t know why a sentence suddenly popped into his head, and without much hesitation, he blurted it out, “Can’t I teach a girl a problem?”

“Is that so?” Shen Yan smiled as if he had heard a joke, and the corners of his mouth gradually curved up. “Then may I ask, which female classmate was it?”

Xu Jing replied coldly, “Lin Xiyan.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Yan pretended to understand and said “Oh,” with a hint of laughter in his voice, “But she asked for leave this afternoon and didn’t come to evening self-study.”

“…”

“Why don’t you change the name?”

Xu Jing looked ahead blankly, indicating that he was giving up on communicating.

“It’s not embarrassing to admit that you were waiting for me. I’m injured, it’s your duty.”

“You just broke a layer of skin, you’re not disabled.”

If it weren’t for the school pants covering it, he’d see how this person could use a healing wound to tell him the word “pain.”

They bickered all the way, and Xu Jing felt childish. The two were like young children just starting school, wanting to say one more sentence than the other to feel good.

When they arrived at the sixth floor, Shen Yan had no intention of entering the door. Xu Jing looked at him questioningly, “What’s wrong?”

“The doctor told me to change the medicine frequently and avoid water.”

Xu Jing still didn’t understand, “So?”

Shen Yan paused and said, “It’s not convenient for me.”

Xu Jing had always been the type to respond to gentleness but not to force, and he also remembered that Shen Yan had helped him apply medicine last time, so for a moment he couldn’t say the words of refusal.

So the person who had already reached his doorstep threw his bag down and turned around to enter 602.

This was his second time in this room. Last time, the pain had blurred his vision, and Xu Jing couldn’t remember what Shen Yan’s room looked like. Now, looking closely, he realized that this place was so empty that it didn’t feel like a home at all.

His room had potted plants, cotton shoes knitted by Qin Xin, a piano and drawing board given by Xu Huaiyang, and his collection of mecha models.

But this was just a forty-square-meter house. Xu Jing thought that if Shen Yan were to leave one day, it would be very simple; he could just leave with a bag, and no one would be able to find him.

The person at the door still hadn’t come in. Shen Yan asked strangely, “What’s wrong?”

Xu Jing came back to his senses and shook his head. “Nothing.”

Knowing that the other person wouldn’t say, Shen Yan didn’t force it. He took small steps towards the kitchen, took out the medicine box, sat on the sofa, and rolled up his trouser leg.

Despite saying it wasn’t convenient, he was doing everything himself.

Xu Jing couldn’t bear to watch, walked forward, and squatted down. He took the cotton swab and was about to apply the medicine when he was stunned as he looked down.

He saw that the knee was a bloody mess. The area that had already scabbed over had split open again. There was no sign of improvement in this wound; it was even more serious than when it started.

Xu Jing frowned and looked up to ask, “What’s going on?”

Shen Yan said calmly, “I accidentally slipped in the bathroom last time.”

“Why didn’t you say so then? It’s so serious, can it get better just by applying medicine?” Xu Jing’s tone was a little anxious, but Shen Yan looked indifferent.

“Yeah.” Shen Yan added, “The doctor said it can get better.”

Seeing such a hideous wound on Shen Yan’s body, Xu Jing felt inexplicably irritable. He thought Shen Yan was really strange, acting weak and needing his help even to go to the bathroom during the day, but now he was calmly acting as if he wasn’t the one who was injured.

Shen Yan casually shifted his gaze, from a few slightly upturned black hairs to the half of his fair and beautiful neck. He kept staring at the person applying the medicine.

Xu Jing was afraid that Shen Yan would be in pain when he finished applying the medicine, so he kindly blew gently on the wound, his cheeks slightly bulging, which seemed a bit out of place on that cold face.

The person whose mouth was usually venomous was quite cute when he wasn’t talking.

Shen Yan, possessed by a ghost, raised his hand and slowly lowered it, eventually touching those thick, upturned eyelashes.

The thin wings trembled violently. Xu Jing raised his eyes, and there was a hint of confusion in his gaze looking at Shen Yan.

Shen Yan woke up as if from a dream and withdrew his hand.

After a moment, he said in a muffled voice, “You, you’re quite handsome.”