My Deskmate Chapter 11 (Part 2)
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 11.2
Throughout the rest of the afternoon, Chi Ye kept an eye on his deskmate. Other than being even quieter than usual, Wen Xiao didn’t seem much different. Of course, with his perpetually expressionless face, it was nearly impossible to tell what he was feeling. The fact that he noticed Wen Xiao had become even quieter was a testament to his keen observation skills.
As the soothing music for eye exercises played in the background, Chi Ye slipped out without his backpack. He made his way to the wall behind the school supermarket, scaled it effortlessly, and headed off to pick up his little sister from school.
Passing by a small shop near the primary school entrance, he noticed a display of knitted hats out front. On a whim, he stopped and picked out a white one with a fluffy pom-pom.
When Yaya spotted the hat dangling from his hand, she shot toward him like a tiny missile, her backpack bouncing with every step. “Did you buy that for me?”
Chi Ye raised an eyebrow. “Who else would it be for? You think I’d wear it?”
“Your head’s too big! You can’t wear it!” Yaya declared, clutching the knitted hat like it was a treasure, too precious to put on just yet.
Chi Ye didn’t really understand little girls’ tastes. Spring was already here — why would anyone still want a knitted hat? But Yaya had insisted that all the girls in her class had one, so his sister couldn't be the only one without.
Halfway home on his motorbike, Yaya was happily singing a song she’d learned at school that day.
When Chi Ye’s phone buzzed, he gestured toward his sister. “Answer it for me.”
Yaya expertly pulled the phone from his pocket, hit the green button, and held it up to her brother’s ear.
Chi Ye listened briefly, responding with a few curt words before slowing the bike to a stop by the curb. Taking the phone from Yaya, he asked, “What’s the situation now?”
Whatever was said on the other end made him frown deeply. After a pause, he ended the call and turned to Yaya, his expression softer despite the tension in his voice. “That was the caregiver. Mom has a fever. We need to go to the hospital.”
In Yaya’s mind, a fever was a very serious illness. She immediately urged him, “Then let’s go quickly!”
They arrived at the hospital as fast as possible, only to face the most excruciatingly slow elevator Chi Ye had ever encountered in his life. The inpatient department’s elevator was crowded, slow, and seemingly stopping at every single floor. After what felt like an eternity, he managed to squeeze in with Yaya, enduring the constant stops along the way.
Finally, the elevator reached the 27th floor. Chi Ye stepped out with Yaya in tow, and the caregiver met them at the door. Seeing the little girl, she lowered her voice and spoke gently. “She’s in critical condition. The notice has been issued. A family member needs to sign.”
Chi Ye tightened his grip on Yaya’s small hand and moved forward to sign the document.
Over the past year or two, he’d lost count of how many times he’d signed these notices. Yet, no matter how often it happened, he still couldn’t find a way to remain calm.
The final stroke of the character "Ye" was drawn with excessive force. Chi Ye put down the pen and asked the caregiver, “Wasn’t her condition stable before this?”
The caregiver nodded. “It was stable. They increased the dosage a few days ago, and it seemed to work well. But now... it’s deteriorated again. They can’t increase the dosage anymore. The doctor mentioned a new medication that’s just been released. If she can start on it, maybe it’ll help.”
Leaning against the horizontal bars installed on both sides of the corridor, Chi Ye forced himself to sound strong. “I understand. Money isn’t an issue. If the doctor thinks switching to the new medication is necessary, go ahead and try it.”
He noticed Yaya clutching the white knitted hat tightly, her worried eyes fixed on him. Reaching out, he ruffled her hair.
When the resuscitation was over, family members still weren’t allowed to visit. Chi Ye stood outside the glass window and glanced inside. Yaya tugged on his sleeve, wanting to see too, so he picked her up and held her in his arms.
Clinging to the glass, Yaya asked, “There are so many tubes. Does it hurt Mommy?”
Chi Ye’s Adam’s apple bobbed twice, his breath hitching as he choked back his emotions. His voice came out hoarse. “It hurts.”
On the way home, Wen Xiao spoke to his grandmother on the phone. She asked him what he’d eaten for dinner, and he casually made up names of two dishes. In truth, he hadn’t had any appetite at all and hadn’t even managed a sip of water.
His grandmother reminded him to close the windows before bed. Although spring had arrived, the nights were still chilly. She also told him to make sure he ate breakfast before school, suggesting he grab something from the bakery downstairs and drink a carton of milk or a cup of soy milk.
Wen Xiao agreed to everything.
After hanging up, he let out a quiet sigh.
The buildings along Jiuzhang Road were old, and compared to more bustling areas, even the streetlights seemed dimmer. As night deepened, the aged structures behind the roadside trees loomed dark and shadowy. There were few cars on the street, creating a rather quiet and deserted atmosphere.
When he reached the entrance to his residential complex, Wen Xiao paused but didn’t go in. Adjusting the strap of his backpack, he continued walking along the street instead.
Without realizing it, he found himself once again near the hardware store.
The lights at Chi Ye’s family shop had been replaced with a warmer tone, casting a soft, inviting glow that stood out against the cold night. Wen Xiao unconsciously took another couple of steps closer.
Inside, Chi Ye was scolding his little sister.
“Yaya, other kids refuse to eat their veggies and only eat meat, but you’re the complete opposite. You’ll eat vegetables but not meat. Let me interview you for a second. Why don’t you eat meat? Aren’t you worried you won’t grow tall?”
As he spoke, he grabbed a nearly empty roll of paper, holding it up like a microphone.
Yaya sat with her chopsticks, poking at her rice grain by grain, pretending to be deeply focused. When she realized her brother was still waiting for her answer, she finally whispered, “I want to save the meat for Mom.”
Chi Ye froze mid-motion, his hand halting in the air. His voice came out strained. “What?”
Her eyes reddened as she continued, “I heard it at the hospital. An old grandpa was feeding an old grandma, and he said if she ate meat, she’d get better and could go home.”
His throat tightened, making it hard to speak. “So you stopped eating meat?”
“Mm-hmm.” Yaya nodded firmly. “If I don’t eat it, there’s more for Mom to eat.”
Chi Ye exhaled sharply, setting the roll of paper in his hand back down on the table. He tore off a small piece and carefully wiped the tears from her face. “The doctors don’t want Mom to eat meat right now, so even if you save it, she won’t be able to eat it.”
Yaya tilted her head up, her eyelashes still wet, and said disappointedly, “Really?”
Chi Ye softened his tone. “When has your ge ever lied to you?”
Yaya thought for a moment, then, satisfied, picked up her chopsticks and started eating again.
After calming his sister down, Chi Ye felt an ache spreading in his chest. He stood abruptly. “I’m going outside for some air.”
At the shop’s entrance, he stopped and caught sight of his deskmate standing by the curb, a black backpack slung over one shoulder. Wen Xiao was gazing into the distance, the night wind tousling his hair, lost in thought.
Wen Xiao turned his head and met Chi Ye’s eyes.
Wen Xiao didn’t really want to greet Chi Ye. After the incident in the laboratory, Chi Ye was probably making random guesses in his mind. Just as he hesitated whether to turn and leave, he heard Chi Ye ask, “Want to buy something from my shop?”
Wen Xiao paused for a moment before responding, “...Yeah.”
Chi Ye stepped behind the glass counter. “What are you looking for?”
Wen Xiao’s gaze swept over the items displayed in the shop before he finally replied, “A screw.”
Chi Ye smirked but didn’t ask about the size or type of screw, just casually picked one up and handed it over. “Fifty cents. Special discount for classmates. No need to pay.”
Wen Xiao reached out and took it without insisting on paying.
Chi Ye glanced at the time. “It’s pretty late. Just finished evening self-study? I’m still having dinner. Want to come in and join me?”
Wen Xiao had initially planned to refuse, but unexpectedly, Yaya ran out upon hearing the noise and excitedly called out “Cola-gege!”
Wen Xiao couldn’t get a word out.
Chi Ye noticed something in his expression and then turned to his sister. “Yaya, invite Cola-gege to come have dinner with us.”
At the small wooden table, there was a bowl of mushroom soup with meat slices, a plate of stir-fried peppers with pork, and some mashed potatoes.
Wen Xiao sat down. “Did you make this?”
Chi Ye hadn’t said anything yet when Yaya quickly answered for him, “Yes, my gege made it. He’s really good at cooking!”
Chi Ye: “She’s not lying.”
Wen Xiao: “......”
He picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks, and as he tasted it, he realized Yaya wasn’t exaggerating.
The warmth of the room contrasted with the chill outside. Before he knew it, Wen Xiao had finished the bowl of food.
Chi Ye was playing a game on his phone, and with an exaggeratedly serious expression, he said, “If you're not full, get more. Don't be polite. Rice is cheap, it won't bankrupt my family.”
Yaya mimicked her brother’s words, “You have to eat until you're full. Don't be polite!” She added seriously, “You have to eat enough to grow tall!”
Chi Ye glanced at Yaya from under his eyelids. "You’re so good at lecturing others, but when it comes to you, why are you always picky about food? Do you even still want to grow taller?"
Yaya stuck out her tongue, then lowered her head and obediently ate her food.
Two plates of dishes and one bowl of soup were completely finished. Chi Ye stood up to clear the bowls, but Wen Xiao spoke up, "I’ll wash them?"
Chi Ye didn’t hesitate. "Yeah, you wash them."
Wen Xiao quickly washed the dishes and came out, hearing Yaya quietly reading her Chinese homework. "Clear water, pure water; to cherish, to protect; what falls, falls down..."
It reminded him of his younger sister, who used to stumble over synonyms like that, skipping over characters she didn't recognize.
Chi Ye, lounging against the wall, was absorbed in his phone. Wen Xiao walked over, intending to tell him he was about to leave, but accidentally saw something on the Taobao search bar — write an self-reflection letter for me.
When Chi Ye noticed Wen Xiao had seen it, he didn’t flinch. Instead, he casually pointed at the screen and said, "It’s the age of the internet. Who writes their own paper anymore? Twenty-five yuan for a handwritten self-reflection letter, free shipping. Technology changes lives."