My Deskmate Chapter 2 (Part 1)
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 2.1
Wen Xiao stepped off Bus 117. At a glance, half the street was filled with people wearing the same school uniform. It was almost like a copy-paste effect.
The school uniform of Mingnan Affiliated High weren’t ugly, but it certainly couldn't be called good-looking either. If one had to rate it, it would just barely meet the general public's perception of a typical high school uniform. To put it simply, one could find at least ten or eight identical sets across the country — blue and white, in an athletic style. On the back were printed four large red characters: Mingnan Affiliated High School. How unique.
Along the way, many students were either munching on breakfast or scrolling through their phones as they walked at a leisurely pace. However, as they approached the school gate, they all raised their heads and stood up straight, their hands empty, their movements uniform.
"Zip up your uniforms! Higher! Do you think this is Milan Fashion Week?"
"Phones! Hiding them behind your back, do you think I'm blind? How many times this week already? Hand them over!"
"Your hair is so long and you won't cut it? Planning on donating it to build a bird's nest? If I see it again tomorrow, I'll personally give you an award-winning haircut!"
Wen Xiao thought this was probably the loudest voice he’d ever heard in his life, and it was the kind that could continue to output at full volume without interruption.
"You! Yes, you! Did the United Nations give you special permission not to wear a uniform?"
Wen Xiao, with his white jacket, black backpack, and tall stature, was extremely eye-catching at the school gate.
Cheng Xiaoning, who had been stationed at the school gate for a full week, finally spotted a student not wearing the uniform. It was as if he’d caught a prize fish. He strode over with an eager step, then boomed, "Why aren’t you in uniform? Are you that..." He trailed off as he got a good look at Wen Xiao's face. "New transfer student? The one who got into Class 1 of the science program?"
Wen Xiao worried that the man might leap up and scratch his face in the next second. He shifted his weight slightly and stepped to the side before responding, "Yes." Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a tall student behind the director trying to sneak through the school gates. Unfortunately for him, the director seemed to have eyes on the back of his head.
"Stop! Get back here!"
The tall student, deflated like a wilting flower, hugged his backpack and shuffled over to stand beside Wen Xiao.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Cheng Xiaoning pursed his lips in displeasure, his critical gaze sweeping over Wen Xiao’s white jacket. Noticing that the zipper was properly fastened and the collar neatly arranged, his temper cooled slightly.
"Explain yourself. Why aren’t you in uniform?"
Wen Xiao lowered his gaze and gave it a moment’s thought before replying seriously, "It was taken by a dog."
The tall student beside him, who had been standing listlessly, suddenly guffawed, his voice rough and unrestrained. "Damn, that’s brilliant! It was taken by a dog—!"
Wen Xiao was sent to stand under the statue of Confucius.
Director Cheng’s exact words had been: "Stand next to the great sage. Reflect deeply. You’re in your second year of high school, almost in your third, and yet you come up with such a flimsy excuse? Do you think you've lived up to your dozen years of schooling?"
As soon as he settled in place, the tall student, also standing as punishment, sidled over to strike up a conversation. "Hey, brother, I don't recognize you. First time standing here? Let’s get to know each other."
Wen Xiao had the oddest feeling he had entered a detention center, where cellmates greeted each other across their bars.
He adjusted the slipping strap of his backpack, stuck one hand in his pocket, and replied, "Yeah."
The tall student lit up with enthusiasm. "Thought so! I've seen all the regulars who come to chat with the sage, but you're a new face. Welcome to the family! But your excuse-making skill is as bad as Chi-ge's. We're definitely going to be seeing a lot of each other!"
Wen Xiao didn’t respond.
The other boy didn’t seem bothered by his indifference. “The great Confucius once said, ‘When a friend comes from afar, one must first test his strength, starve his body, and empty his mind.’ By the way, have you had breakfast? I happen to have half a cookie here. It's cold outside, do you want half? It'll warm you up?”
Wen Xiao glanced at the half Oreo being offered but didn’t take it. “No, thanks. How do you usually score in Chinese?”
“Chinese? Oh, it’s pretty good. I usually get around 70. In my exam room, everyone always copy my multiple-choice answers! Except for one guy!” the tall boy said, his expression brightening with pride. He continued as if sharing an achievement. “Let me tell you, I often sit next to Chi-ge during exams. Three out of five times, we've sat close together but Chi-ge doesn't like copying. I throw him answer slips, but he doesn't even look at them. I think it's too tiring for him to copy ABCD.”
Wen Xiao couldn’t quite understand how copying ABCD could be tiring.
“Speaking of Chi-ge,” the tall boy added, “it’s been ages since we’ve stood together under the statue, soaking up the winter sun. I think he only showed up on the first day of school this term. Haven’t seen him since. No idea where he’s off enjoying life now.”
The tall guy had just stuffed half a cookie into his mouth when he got a whack on the head. “Ow!”
“Ow? You think this is a breakfast picnic? I told you to reflect, not to eat breakfast with the great sage!” The director’s voice rose two notches, his momentum unstoppable.
Wen Xiao glanced at the director, who couldn’t have been taller than 1.6 meters, and strongly suspected that he must have jumped to land that hit.
After lecturing the tall boy, the director’s gaze fell on Wen Xiao. “And you? Have you finished reflecting?”
“I have.”
Wen Xiao’s cooperation caught the director off guard. Accustomed to dealing with rebellious students, Cheng Xiaoning faltered for a moment. “Alright then. Go to your morning self-study. And remember to wear your uniform tomorrow! Don't tell me it got taken by a dog again!”
By the time Wen Xiao arrived at the classroom, morning self-study was already halfway through.
As soon as he put down his backpack, Zhao Yiyang turned around, holding a CET-4 Vocabulary book. “Brave warrior, the kind-hearted citizen Zhao Yiyang already reminded you, and yet you still forgot to wear your uniform. You really got caught by Cheng Xiaoning, didn't you? I saw him at the gate when I came in, standing there like a giant crab. If I hadn’t been quick, my phone would’ve been confiscated!”
Wen Xiao didn’t say much. His gaze fell on the vocabulary book in Zhao Yiyang’s hands. “Level 4?”
Zhao Yiyang nodded. “Yep. I've almost finished memorizing all the high school words, so now I'm moving on to CET-4. Honestly, high school English isn’t hard — it’s just the same set of knowledge points repeated over and over. Vocabulary is still the key. What about you? How far along was your English class at your old school?”
“I took a year off from school, so I’m not sure.”
Wen Xiao’s calm response left Zhao Yiyang momentarily stunned. “A whole year? That’s a long break. Forgetting some stuff would be normal... wait, no, not normal at all! Hold on, brother, can I ask something? How much time have you actually spent attending high school classes?”
Wen Xiao answered flatly, “One semester.”
That stopped Zhao Yiyang in his tracks, and he even added an air of formality. “Just one semester? So you’ve basically activated hell mode on your own. Are you sure you can clear this level?”
Wen Xiao: “Old Xu told me we’re starting to review all subjects in-depth this semester.”
“That’s right. We usually call it the pre-college entrance exam zeroth round review.” Zhao Yiyang sucked in a sharp breath. “Hold on. We’re reviewing, and you’re just starting to preview?”
Wen Xiao nodded. “More or less.”
Zhao Yiyang thought for a while, cycling through various words before settling on one he felt was accurate. “Bking, you radiate coolness with every move you make!”
After finishing half a page of vocabulary, Zhao Yiyang still couldn’t wrap his head around how Wen Xiao had come to such a bold decision. He wanted to turn around and ask but hesitated. His new classmate was distant and aloof. Moreover, asking too many questions might come off as nosy and tactless.
After wrestling with his curiosity for a while, Zhao Yiyang finally let it go. Whatever, this guy was definitely a badass!