My Deskmate Chapter 80
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 80
Wen Xiao turned off his computer a little past eight to take his grandmother to the airport.
Summer days were long, and even at this hour, the sky hadn’t fully darkened. Streetlights cast a warm glow over the neighborhood, where many elderly residents strolled leisurely, fanning themselves against the lingering heat.
Walking ahead, Wen Xiao kept one hand casually in his pocket while the other held the handle of a rolling suitcase, his shirt sleeves rolled neatly to his elbows. He looked poised and energetic, his strides steady and confident. His grandmother, carrying a simple tote bag, trailed behind with a warm smile. "Xiaoxiao, were you playing games this afternoon?"
Wen Xiao slowed his pace to fall in step beside her. "Yeah, with some old friends from Mingnan."
"Was it Zhao Yiyang and the others? Good, good. It's nice to relax once in a while. But remember, staring at the screen too long isn’t good for your eyes. Make sure to look at something far away now and then." Her habitual nagging came with a light chuckle before she added casually, "Was Chi Ye playing with you too?"
Wen Xiao’s grip on the suitcase handle tightened for a moment. It took him a few seconds to respond with a faint, "Mm."
Noticing his reaction, his grandmother continued as if talking to herself. "The last time Chi Ye came by to see you, I deliberately stayed out of the way. I didn’t want to make things awkward for you two." She paused, then teased, "But it’s normal to feel a little awkward when your family finds out about a puppy love, right?"
Meeting Grandma's teasing gaze, Wen Xiao could only manage a stiff, "Yeah."
While waiting for their ride at the curb, the soft glow of streetlights filtered through the thick branches above. Wen Xiao instinctively stepped closer to the road, shielding his grandmother from the passing traffic. After a moment’s hesitation, he said quietly, "I thought you wouldn’t approve."
His grandmother looked up at him, her expression softening as her gaze met his sharp, clear features. "When it comes down to it, who you like and who you want to spend your life with are deeply personal choices. Besides, it's much more difficult to like someone of the same sex because it challenges conventional societal norms. The path is already difficult enough, so if I don't support this relationship, how sad would you be? Grandma doesn't want you to be sad. I want you to be happy and carefree."
His grandmother reached out and carefully adjusted Wen Xiao’s slightly crooked collar, her gaze dropping as she spoke softly. "If your parents were here, they would feel the same way I do about this."
Wen Xiao’s eyes stung faintly, though he blinked it away.
When he spoke again, his voice was a little hoarse as he began to remind her, "Don’t fall asleep on the plane. It’ll mess up your body clock and make it harder to adjust. Your laptop is with the student traveling with you. Don’t forget the power cord and adapter this time. And the room keycard — get a spare from the front desk and give it to the student, just in case."
"I know, I know," she interrupted with a wave of her hand. "I’m only going for a short meeting, a few days at most. The student with me is experienced, so stop worrying unnecessarily. You, on the other hand, if you want to go somewhere while I’m gone, just send me a message on WeChat to let me know."
The car pulled up to the curb. Wen Xiao lifted the suitcase into the trunk and then reminded the driver to turn the air conditioning up a little.
Back home, he made himself a simple bowl of egg noodles and ate absentmindedly. Once finished, he opened WeChat and tapped on Chi Ye’s profile, sending over a single punctuation mark.
A few minutes later, Chi Ye video-called him.
On the screen, Chi Ye’s hair was still damp, likely from a recent shower. He was wearing a loose white T-shirt, paired with equally casual, baggy jeans. The phone must have been propped up on his desk. He leaned in closer to the camera, grinning mischievously. "What’s this? Missed your Chi-ge already, Xiaoxiao?"
Wen Xiao propped his phone on the table and sank into his chair, his tone calm as he reminded him, "Someone bought cola today."
Chi Ye raised an eyebrow. "So?"
Wen Xiao’s voice was cool, but his gaze remained fixed on the screen. "So you can take a good look at me."
"Damn." Chi Ye shifted uncomfortably under Wen Xiao’s stare, feeling a strange heat rise under his skin. Clicking his tongue in frustration, he got up and pushed open the window, letting the night breeze cool the room — and his nerves.
When he returned to the camera, Wen Xiao had already stood up. Before Chi Ye could process what was happening, Wen Xiao casually grabbed the hem of his T-shirt, crossed his arms, and pulled it over his head in one smooth motion.
His skin was pale, almost luminescent under the warm light, like it was dusted with a faint layer of snow.
Chi Ye’s throat went dry. It felt as though he hadn’t had a drink in days. His fingers tapped rapidly against the desk, trying to focus. "Is it that hot in Qingzhou?"
"It’s not." Wen Xiao draped the T-shirt over the back of his chair. The low waistline of his jeans framed his lean, youthful figure, giving him an air of boyish charm. "I’m about to take a shower."
Take a shower? And you’re already taking your clothes off?
When Wen Xiao walked out of the frame, Chi Ye found himself staring at the discarded T-shirt on the chair. His mouth was inexplicably parched.
A few seconds later, Wen Xiao reappeared in the screen, leaving behind the words "I did it on purpose," and then left again.
Chi Ye closed his eyes, the image of Wen Xiao’s cool, detached demeanor seared into his mind. With a frustrated groan, he grabbed a bottle of mineral water and took several long gulps, the icy liquid doing little to cool him down.
Damn, it's killing me.
The video call remained open, neither of them bothering to end it. Whenever their phones ran low on battery, they simply plugged them in. Even though they had already finished the college entrance exams, the two of them were acting like they were back home from evening self-study, watching videos and doing practice questions together.
Wen Xiao worked through a few pages of advanced calculus problems before pinching the bridge of his nose to ease the strain. He glanced at the screen and asked, "What are you up to?"
"I took on a couple of translation gigs online," Chi Ye replied, his head lifting from the dense page of words in front of him. "The client’s on a tight deadline, but I checked — it’s doable, so I accepted. I’ll probably finish by three." He paused, then added casually, "Kinda feel like having a cola."
Because of the angle of his phone, Chi Ye could only see Wen Xiao’s profile. His long lashes cast soft shadows under the warm light, and the tiny mole near the corner of his eye looked almost deliberately placed. With his slightly hooded eyelids, the curve of his eyes extended in a way that tugged at Chi Ye’s heart.
Wen Xiao’s pen stilled for a moment before he looked up and replied coolly, "Didn’t you already have one today?"
Chi Ye only chuckled, his tone laden with meaning. "I want to drink cola all day, sometimes even in my dreams. I'm addicted to this stuff, I can't quit."
The black plastic pen spun several times between Wen Xiao’s fingers before he finally responded, "If it’s an addiction, then don’t quit."
It was already two in the morning by the time they decided to sleep. Neither mentioned ending the call. Wen Xiao turned off the light and sank into his pillow, lying on his side as he faced the screen. "What time are you getting up tomorrow?"
Chi Ye: "Around ten."
Wen Xiao murmured an acknowledgment, his eyes drifting shut.
Twenty minutes later, after Chi Ye finished two more pages of calculus problems, he switched off his own light and climbed into bed. Just as he settled in, he heard a faint murmur through the video call.
"Chi-ge."
The word was soft, half-lost in sleep, but they made Chi Ye’s heart skip a beat in the quiet of the night.
Chi Ye lay on his back in bed, responding softly, "Hmm? What is it?"
A moment later, he heard Wen Xiao murmur back, his voice as hazy as a dream. "Nothing... I just feel like kissing you."
That night, Chi Ye dreamed endlessly.
He dreamed of playing basketball on the court at Mingnan High. After the game, he returned to the empty classroom, where he pinned Wen Xiao against the back wall and kissed him. Outside, the cicadas chirped in layers, their droning song filling the summer air. Inside, the chalk dust from the blackboard brushed against their elbows as they moved.
The June weather in Mingnan was perfect. Chi Ye yawned lazily as he watered the two potted plants on his windowsill. The sunlight was so bright it made him squint.
Meanwhile, Xu Rui was spiraling into pre-results anxiety. He spent half an hour wailing in their group chat.
Zhao Yiyang: "Stop overthinking it. Regretting your mistakes now won’t help. Besides, isn’t it way too early to be freaking out? It’s only the 12th. Results don’t come out until the 23rd!"
Shangguan Yu: "Get a grip. You should be enjoying this time and letting loose."
Xu Rui: "Master! How about... you divine for me whether my exam results will be good or bad?"
Zhao Yiyang: "If I had that kind of power, I’d set up a fortune-telling booth under the statue of Confucius , make a fortune overnight, and be filthy rich in six months. You believe me or not?"
Chi Ye: "If you want to play games or shoot some hoops to distract yourself, just let me know."
Xu Rui: "What the hell? People scoring over 700 have no right to show up right now! I’m officially jealous! Oh, by the way, I couldn’t sleep last night. I just found out Chi-ge is actually in a relationship, but I don’t even know the name of his partner! I'm so ashamed of my title as ‘Number One Gossip King of Mingnan High!’"
Zhao Yiyang: "Hahaha, what kind of ridiculous title is that? Did you give it to yourself? So lame!"
Chi Ye was about to type a reply when a knock on his door interrupted him. Tossing his phone onto the desk, he stretched lazily as he went to open it. "Who’s—"
The words died in his throat the moment he saw who it was.
Wen Xiao stood at the door, dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans, a black shoulder bag slung casually over one arm.
They locked eyes.
Chi Ye didn’t move, and Wen Xiao, unfazed, stepped inside without waiting for an invitation. He hadn't even changed his slippers when, after the door closed, he was pushed back two and a half steps by Chi Ye, his back hitting the wall.
A firm hand gripped the back of his neck, and then a rough, almost reckless kiss crushed against his lips, pushing forcefully against his teeth.
The sting of the bite made Wen Xiao’s lips throb, the intensity leaving him breathless. Instinctively, he tried to turn his head away, but Chi Ye caught his chin and tilted it back, keeping him in place.
Wen Xiao’s bag fell to the floor, forgotten. Chi Ye’s lips hovered over his, his voice low and husky, emotions barely restrained. "Didn’t you come here to kiss me?"
The corners of Wen Xiao’s pale eyes were tinged with red. He pressed his lips together and said nothing.
Chi Ye’s fingers loosened, tracing along the sharp line of Wen Xiao’s jaw before lightly pinching his earlobe. His gaze lingered on Wen Xiao’s slightly swollen lips. "Hmm?"
Unwilling to answer, Wen Xiao grabbed Chi Ye’s collar with one hand, yanked him forward, and kissed him hard.