My Deskmate Chapter 63
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 63
"A simple harmonic wave propagates along the x-axis. Given the vibration graphs of the particles at x1=1m and x2=7m on the x-axis as shown below..."
Although it was Monday morning, quite a few students were lying down in the classroom, and a couple of others were sneaking glances at manhua while pretending to pay attention. The physics teacher called on four students to stand up and listen after seeing the lack of focus, but realizing it didn’t make much of a difference, he grew disheartened. Giving up, he simply stood at the blackboard, talking to himself. Those who wanted to listen could, and those who didn’t could ignore him.
As the teacher turned to write on the board, Zhao Yiyang also casually turned around. "Chi-ge—" he started, but then hesitated. His gaze fell onto the sheet of scratch paper in front of Wen Xiao, which was covered with large and small, crookedly written characters, but they were all the name "Chi Ye."
The force behind the strokes was heavy enough that several lines had nearly torn through the paper.
Zhao Yiyang recognized Chi Ye’s handwriting and muttered under his breath, "Huh, is Chi-ge messing around or just too bored? Why did he sign his name all over your scratch paper? Practicing his autograph for a debut?"
Then, a thought crossed his mind, and he felt something was off. After all, Chi Ye hadn’t been to school in three weeks. Could he have just signed the paper during the few minutes he came by to drop off breakfast?
His gaze flicked over the white sheet of paper, but Wen Xiao couldn’t remember exactly when he had repeatedly written that name in such a disordered manner, let alone when he had subconsciously imitated Chi Ye’s handwriting. Instead of responding, he casually asked, "What’s up?"
"Huh? Oh, what was I going to ask... Right, I was wondering about Chi-ge. I mean, he’s skipped classes before, but... he’s never been gone for this long."
Wen Xiao patiently waited for him to finish his thought.
Zhao Yiyang glanced at the physics teacher, who was still explaining the problem on the board. When he was sure the teacher wasn’t looking his way, he licked his dry lips and continued, "Wen Xiao, do you think it’s possible... that Chi-ge might just stop coming to school?"
His words were cautious and indirect, but they still made Wen Xiao’s fingertips feel cold. "What do you mean?"
This thought had been swirling in Zhao Yiyang’s mind for a while now, and it left a bitter taste in his mouth. "I mean... do you think Chi-ge might drop out and never come back to school?"
Once the key words were out, Zhao Yiyang found his tongue loosened, and his words flowed more easily. "I don’t have any solid evidence, just thinking randomly. But I’ve been wondering if something happened at home. Didn't Old Xu say that, besides teenage rebellion, family factors play a big role in a teenager going off the rails? Chi-ge... he’s really smart. His grades were so good before. Even if he’s going through a rebellious phase, his mind is definitely still clear, so he wouldn’t just mess around. That’s why I’m thinking this way."
When Wen Xiao didn’t interrupt, Zhao Yiyang went on. "At first, Chi-ge was just arriving late and leaving early, but after the start of second year, he started skipping classes more often. Sometimes for a day or two, sometimes for three days, but he always showed up for exams. But this semester... Look at today. After three weeks, he finally came in, lingered around, and left again. I’m just a little worried. And, you know, what does a high school student do if they don’t go to school?"
That last question was beyond Zhao Yiyang’s experience.
Wen Xiao had never thought about it either. Everyone he knew was either in class or preparing for the college entrance exams. It wasn’t until he met Chi Ye that he realized how much better some high school students could do than many adults.
Chi Ye had taken on the responsibility of holding a crumbling family together.
Just then, a white piece of chalk flew over the desks in the first five rows and struck Zhao Yiyang squarely on the back of the head.
Instinctively, Zhao Yiyang covered his head with his hands.
The physics teacher tapped his fingers on the desk. "Zhao Yiyang, are you going to talk, or should I? If you like speaking during class so much, why don’t you come up to the podium? There’s plenty of space for you to perform."
Zhao Yiyang forced a smile. "Teacher, I voluntarily choose to change my listening posture!" With that, he obediently stood up.
Seeing him like this, the teacher couldn’t hold back a laugh and then feigned a look of disdain. "Sit down, sit down. Did I tell you to stand? You’re blocking the other students!"
That evening, when Wen Xiao got home, his grandmother had made a pot of snow fungus soup. She insisted that he drink three bowls before letting him return to his room to do his homework. Halfway through, he went out to get some water, and his grandmother, setting down the sweater she had been knitting, looked up and asked, "Xiaoxiao, do you like Mingnan?"
The TV was playing the news, and in front of her, there was a basket with a ball of yarn, next to a physics textbook.
Wen Xiao paused before answering, "I like it. The weather is really nice here."
His grandmother nodded and adjusted her reading glasses, then suddenly asked, "What about Qingzhou? Do you think you would like it there?"
Wen Xiao wasn’t sure why she asked, but he still gave a thoughtful response. "Qingzhou University is ranked third in the country. My deskmate wanted to apply there for a while. He said the climate’s nice, the history is rich, and there are many scenic spots. Plus, with a student ID, you get half-price tickets. It’s not far from Mingnan, just a few hours by high-speed train."
Zhao Yiyang and Shangguan Yu often discussed universities — which one had the best environment, which one had the largest library, which had the strongest faculty, and which one was closest to Mingnan for easy trips home. Wen Xiao would occasionally listen in.
"Yes, Qingzhou’s history is really long, and the environment is nice too," his grandmother said, as though trying to say more, but then quickly changed the topic. "Alright, go do your homework now. If I keep talking to you, you’ll lose another ten minutes of sleep. I’ll finish these few rows and go to bed too, so hurry up."
At two in the morning, Wen Xiao had finished his study plan. He leaned back in his chair and rubbed the corners of his sore, tired eyes. Looking out the window, he saw that the opposite side of the street was still dark. Chi Ye hadn’t returned yet.
He picked up his phone and spun it in his hands, his lashes lowered as he hesitated. Just then, his phone rang.
It was a video call from Chi Ye.
The background of the video showed streetlights, and Chi Ye's eyes were sparkling with a smile. "Are you about to sleep?"
"Almost," Wen Xiao replied, his gaze drifting to the scene behind Chi Ye. The video was a little shaky because of his movement, but a few familiar building signs flashed by. "Are you on Jiuzhang Road?"
"Yeah, I stopped by the store. Now I’m on my way home." Chi Ye held the phone at just the right height, level with his face.
Wen Xiao grabbed a pen and twirled it between his fingers. "Was today smooth?"
"Yeah." Chi Ye kept his eyes forward but occasionally glanced at the video feed. "Is your throat better? Does it still hurt when you speak?"
"It doesn’t hurt anymore. My grandmother made me take the last dose of medicine tonight, along with three bowls of snow fungus soup," Wen Xiao chatted lazily, his limbs heavy with exhaustion. His elbow rested on the desk, propping up his forehead. The light from the desk lamp fell just right into his eyes, casting a gleaming sheen, like liquid light in his pupils. "Let me guess, you didn’t have dinner."
Chi Ye slowed his pace, eyes focused on the screen. For a moment, it felt as though every strand of Wen Xiao’s hair was glimmering with light. He picked up the conversation. "So, what do you think?"
"You didn’t eat," Wen Xiao replied, then added, "Every time you come home these days, the kitchen light turns on. It stays on for about twenty minutes before it shuts off. So, unless you went straight to sleep after coming home..."
Chi Ye’s gaze darkened as he stared intently at Wen Xiao’s cold expression, his delicate features sharp under the light. "How long have you been watching me without my knowledge?"
Wen Xiao avoided giving a direct answer. "Isn’t it up to me how long I want to watch?"
There was a rare note of youthful defiance in his voice. It was subtle, just a fleeting moment of a minute or two, but Chi Ye felt it.
Seeing Wen Xiao's skin, as white as jade under the light, and his pale lips, Chi Ye inexplicably felt a fire ignite within him. He wanted to gently bite Wen Xiao's lower lip, biting until it was a deep, rich color.
It was only a brief moment of emotion, but Wen Xiao caught it. "What are you thinking about?"
Chi Ye didn’t hide it. "I’m thinking about kissing you."
Wen Xiao’s fingers twitched involuntarily, but he immediately replied, "Come on, feel free to kiss me. What do you think?"
On the other side of the screen, Chi Ye let out a low chuckle, cursing under his breath.
The next day, after evening study session, Wen Xiao made his way home. A fine drizzle had started to fall, so light it was almost invisible, only discernible in the glow of car headlights. The rain, combined with the wind, brushed against his face, leaving a faint trace of moisture.
His grandmother called to check where he was. Wen Xiao stepped onto the old pavement of Jiuzhang Road and replied, "Just got off the bus. It’s not raining much, no need to come pick me up."
His grandmother didn’t insist, only giving him a few more reminders to walk faster in case the rain picked up, fearing his recent cold would come back.
Spring was nearly gone, and the trees along Jiuzhang Road had grown fuller, their branches thick enough to obscure much of the streetlight. As Wen Xiao stepped on a loose tile, someone suddenly grabbed his arm from the side!
Wen Xiao's eyes turned cold as he grabbed the other person's wrist with his other hand, ready to elbow forward. But in the blink of an eye, he sensed something.
He instantly released all his strength, and, following the other person’s pull, he was drawn into the shadowed corner. His back hit the rough concrete wall.
Before he could even stabilize himself, Chi Ye's kiss landed on his lips.
The strap of his black backpack slipped down his shoulder, pulling the blue and white school jacket with it, the zipper shifting slightly, loosening the collar. Holding onto his backpack tightly in one hand, Wen Xiao instinctively tilted his head to the side.
The light from the streetlamp was sliced by the corner, casting shadows. In the darkness, Chi Ye lowered his gaze. "You said it."
Wen Xiao’s mind felt like it had sunk into mud, unable to react. He stared at Chi Ye’s silhouette, outlined by the shadows. "What?"
His voice was softer than usual.
Chi Ye’s tone was deep, tinged with a smile, as his thumb traced the sharp line of Wen Xiao’s eye. "Are you going back on your word, Xiaoxiao? You said I could kiss you however I wanted."