My Deskmate Chapter 37 (Part 2)
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 37.2
Physics class was predictably dedicated to reviewing the test papers. The physics teacher, already dressed in a short-sleeved shirt despite the season, flexed his muscled arms as he had the subject rep distribute the papers. Then, glancing at the stack, he announced, “I’ll be using Wen Xiao’s paper as an example. By the way, two of Wen Xiao’s solutions were more concise than the standard answers. If you’re interested, you can borrow his paper to take a closer look after class.”
A boy raised his hand. “Teacher, then whose paper does Wen Xiao get to look at?”
Zhao Yiyang turned back and whispered, “That’s Zhang Siyao talking. Teachers used to always use his papers. Guess he’s still adjusting to getting knocked off the top spot. It’s gotta sting.”
The physics teacher had already prepared his answer. “Wen Xiao, you remember the problems you solved, don’t you?”
When Wen Xiao nodded, the teacher continued, “Great. Then take a look at Chi Ye’s paper. His is practically spotless, like it’s fresh out of the printer.”
Sure enough, Chi Ye’s test paper was impeccably clean. Apart from a few circled answers in the multiple-choice section, there wasn’t a single mark on it. Scanning through, Wen Xiao realized Chi Ye might have a bit of an OCD. The questions Chi Ye had answered seemed carefully selected, ranked by difficulty. Starting with the easiest questions, he’d only answered enough to secure a passing grade of 60 points, then stopped completely, leaving the rest blank.
After finishing the paper, Wen Xiao paid no further attention to the teacher’s explanations. Instead, he pulled out the math review guide and continued his preparations, flipping steadily through the later chapters. The only time he looked up was during the discussion of the last multiple-choice question, where he multitasked, jotting down an unconventional solution method on Chi Ye’s otherwise pristine test paper.
By the end of the evening self-study session, the classroom was still full of students lingering and dragging their feet.
Shangguan Yu sighed deeply. “I don’t want to go home and face the wrath of the Grand Emperor.”
“An emperor’s fury leaves corpses piling high and rivers of blood flowing! Hang in there, brother.” Zhao Yiyang zipped up his backpack after stuffing his Switch inside. “As for me, I just need to get through a quick video call with my parents, and then I can dive into that new game. Something to look forward to!”
As they chatted, Xu Guangqi suddenly rushed into the classroom through the back door. Startled, Zhao Yiyang yanked his bag shut, as though shielding his gaming console from imminent destruction.
“Wen Xiao, you and Chi Ye live near each other, right? Both on Qixia Road?” Xu Guangqi asked hurriedly.
Wen Xiao nodded. “Yes.”
“Then be careful. I just heard from the homeroom teacher of the class next door that one of their students got mugged by a gang of thugs near Qixia Road last night. Lost their entire month’s allowance.” Xu Guangqi frowned in concern. “You look... well, just keep your guard up, alright? If anything happens, call the police immediately. And tell Chi Ye to stop being so nonchalant about everything. Safety first!”
After delivering his warning, Xu Guangqi rushed off as quickly as he had come.
Zhao Yiyang and Shangguan Yu exchanged glances. “If those thugs run into Wen Xiao and Chi-ge, who’s really gonna end up on the losing side?”
Shangguan Yu: “They'll sweep through a thousand armies as easily as rolling up a mat.”
Zhao Yiyang clasped his hands in mock prayer. “Amitabha. Poor Master Xu, deceived by appearances.”
The group headed downstairs together. Xu Rui, clearly starving, tore into a bag of chips as he walked. “By the way, you guys saw Chi-ge today, right? I hope that whole Zhang Mingfeng thing didn’t mess up his mood. Honestly, I should’ve just pretended not to see anything over the weekend.”
“It’s not your fault. Zhang Mingfeng’s just that kind of guy who always has to make his presence felt.” Zhao Yiyang clapped Xu Rui on the shoulder and then turned to Wen Xiao. “That must’ve been your first time meeting Zhang Mingfeng, right? Didn’t you think he seemed sketchy as hell? The kind of guy you can tell is no good just from the way he looks?”
“Yeah,” Wen Xiao replied. After a few steps, he asked, “Do you guys know why Chi Ye hit him?”
“To be honest, none of us really know,” Zhao Yiyang said, miming a jump shot with exaggerated enthusiasm. “But Chi-ge doesn’t throw punches for no reason. Zhang Mingfeng must’ve seriously provoked him. Chi-ge wouldn’t hold back if it crossed the line. The thing is, Chi-ge barely knew anyone in the class back then, and he’d hardly spoken to Zhang Mingfeng. They didn’t even have a chance to build any grudges. So yeah, we were all pretty baffled.”
Shangguan Yu added, “Exactly. Then Zhang Mingfeng transferred schools, and even when people asked him about it later, he wouldn’t say anything. Some claimed he was too scared to talk, worried that Chi-ge would come after him again. I think it was guilt. He probably had something to hide.”
After a short ride on Bus 117 to Jiuzhang Road, Wen Xiao stepped off and immediately spotted Chi Ye by the bus stop.
Chi Ye had always been good-looking, but under the interplay of the streetlights and the advertisement board’s glow, he looked sharper than usual. The straight bridge of his nose cast a shadow two inches long, making his features appear even more defined and striking. It was as though the boyish softness on his face was peeling away, replaced by something more mature, something harder.
“Why are you here?”
Chi Ye fell into step beside Wen Xiao. “Finished most of my work for now. I was passing by and figured it’d be about time to walk back with you.”
“For now?”
“Yeah, there’s more to do later tonight.” Chi Ye didn’t elaborate, shifting the topic instead. “So, 702 points. Old Xu must’ve been grinning from ear to ear. With your score, he can probably strut around the office, showing off until the next semester starts.”
“Chi Ye.”
Chi Ye, caught off guard by hearing his name called so directly, blinked in mild surprise. “What is it?”
“After evening study, on the way back, Xu Rui and the others mentioned Zhang Mingfeng,” Wen Xiao said. For once, his words were precise: time, place, and people all accounted for. Then he paused. “Can I ask?”
Chi Ye had a pretty good idea of what Wen Xiao wanted to know. “You can ask.”
“What did Zhang Mingfeng do?”
Wen Xiao wasn’t someone who pried into others’ business, nor was he prone to meddling. But in that fleeting moment, he found himself genuinely curious about Chi Ye’s past.
Perhaps it was because he was certain that whatever had happened, the truth wouldn’t be as shallow or simple as the rumors or speculations.
Above them were thick branches and dense leaves. Shadows played over Chi Ye’s face, and in the dim light, his eyes, like the cool water of a night well, lacked their usual relaxed laziness.
Abruptly, Chi Ye’s lips curled into a smile, breaking the tension. “Curious about me now?”
Wen Xiao didn’t shy away from the question. “Yes.”
Chi Ye stopped walking and tilted his head slightly, his gaze meeting Wen Xiao’s cool and clear eyes. “Do you really want to know?”
“I do.”
“Curiosity comes at a price,” Chi Ye murmured, stepping closer by an inch. His aura was unmistakably invasive, but his voice was as soft as a spring night breeze. “What will you trade for it, my deskmate?”