Chapter 9: Keeping It In The Heart
“Come to the field this afternoon. My first score will be for you.”
When He Luo opened her English cla.s.s notebook, she saw a note inside scribbled in blue-black ink. There was a drawing of a boy with a stern expression as he dunked the ball into the net. She cannot help but laugh.
“What are you laughing about?” Zhao Cheng Jie asked.
“Since when did I laughed?”
“You’re obviously laughing.”
“I’m laughing at your coffee bean hair.”
“?” Zhao Cheng Jie didn’t understand her words.
“Your bird nest hair.” He Luo really couldn’t hold back her laughter.
“You must have taken the wrong medicine lately, you’re always so hyper.” Zhao Cheng Jie turned his pencil case around and used the shiny surface to check his reflection. He kept on smoothing his hair over. “Does it really look that pathetic?”
Seatmate, I’m really sorry, I really want to laugh, really. He Luo sprawled on her desk and laughed so hard that her eyes turned into crescents.
The long winter had already pa.s.sed. The snow covering the roads, the roofs, had all began to melt. The dry air carried a hint of moisture, bringing a feeling of comfort and refreshment. The trees remained as bare as they were, with all its vertical and horizontal branches. But the solemn grey of winter was dissolved by the humidity, the sunlight shining tenderly. With the ice and snow melting away, the seasons had begun their transition. Spring creeped a little closer, with its gentle hue of green, before spreading all over.
School had just barely reopened but the boys were all lively and excitedly met at every opportunity to play basketball. They were preparing for the upcoming citywide high school basketball league. Members of the cross-year school team often met in the afternoon to practice. There was only half an hour for lunch break. As soon as the morning cla.s.ses ended, Zhang Yuan ate his chocolate bar and beef jerky. He tossed his sweater on top of his bag and began jogging near the cla.s.s door, occasionally leaping and mimicking a ball toss movement.
The student on duty that day returned to cla.s.s carrying lunch boxes. He Luo took her share and as she entered the door, she nearly b.u.mped into Zhang Yuan. Her face red, she quietly said, “You shocked me to death. Are you running so fast to go reincarnate?”
“If you’re this slow, you won’t be able to see the first score.” He shot a quick wink at her, showing her an OK gesture.
“What’s so interesting about seeing the first score?” A confused Li Yun Wei asked. She then laughed. “Unless you have the feeling that that will be your only score today?”
“Never mind just one score, I think someone don’t even want to let go of a single second.” Tian Xin nudged He Luo. “Oh right. You two are being ambiguous lately. You two have been coming to and leaving the school together. Cla.s.smate Zhang Yuan, don’t you usually ride your bicycle?”
Truly, Zhang Yuan did not want to lose a single second on the court. He ran smoothly, almost gliding, and dribbled the ball with a stern expression. This Zhang Yuan looked distant and unapproachable, yet firmly attracted He Luo’s gaze. Even amidst the crowd, He Luo can pinpoint his location with a single look. Precise and accurate.
Or perhaps,
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she should say, in that moment that he appeared, he looked like he was bathed in sunlight, so bright and sharp he made the world paled in comparison. He was the one bright spot in a crowd, impossible to ignore.
The opponent today was the third year’s team. By the time He Luo arrived at the court, they were already five minutes into the game. Zhang Yuan had yet to show any of his skills. He was strictly on defence but in a sudden moment, he relaxed and straightened his back. He pointed at his opponent’s unravelled shoelaces and motioned for his team mates not to rush over. His expression was entirely calm, carrying a hint of prestige.
He truly was magnanimous and a gentleman. When He Luo described Zhang Yuan, she never fell short of adjectives to describe him.
He had already noticed her presence. He did not smile, he only glanced deeply at her.
Zhang Yuan easily shot down the opposing player’s rebound, moved into the gap in the midcourt, and swiftly pa.s.sed the ball. He continued to cut deeper into the other team’s defence, leaping into the air to receive a long pa.s.s from his teammate. With a gentle shove, he threw the ball in the direction of the net. The ball wavered on the ring of the net for a moment before falling in. A nice ball! Still he only ran to his teammate’s side and exchanged a quick high-five.
My first score will be for you. When He Luo remembered these words, she had to take a deep breath in order to suppress the excited screams threatening to escape her throat.
The players all looked worn and grim, the sweat falling. They used their jerseys to wipe it off, leaving streaks on their face. There was none of the splendour of a refreshing and beautiful youth.
“My seatmate must definitely be thirsty, I saw his mouth curling,” Li Yun Wei said. “He Luo, hurry up and buy some drinks.”
“How can she leave?!” Tian Xin laughed. “She’s grown a hook in her eyes. I’ll go.”
Before He Luo could stop her, Tian Xin had already run to the store to buy a bottle of mineral water. “They all spent a lot of effort playing today. There’s not even any break for them to rest. Your heart must be aching.”
He Luo smiled dryly. “What are you all talking about?” She looked at Li Yun Wei. “If you’re going to buy, buy a few more. There are still other kids from our cla.s.s on the court.”
“Why are you looking at me? None of those kids are my loved ones.”
“What loved one. You’re the welfare committee member, remember.”
“You’re still refusing to admit it!” Tian Xin persistently nudged He Luo. “Go, hurry up and give him the water. Don’t you see someone waiting with her black tea?”
“Hey, hey, didn’t I say there’s nothing between us.” She kept on walking backwards, her feet nearly touching the white line. The referee’s gaze flickered over at her every now and then.
“Even so, you can’t benefit that first year student. You don’t let the fertilised water from your field flowing to another’s field [keep the good things in the family].”
“Fine, fine. Let’s at least wait for the half-time, okay? If you push me anymore backwards, then I’ll be the sixth member in the team.”
After the game ended, Zhang Yuan walked over the side of the court. He lifted the hem of his shirt to wipe his sweat. He Luo was pushed right in front of him, Tian Xin had also taken the opportunity to put the bottle of water in her hands. “You played well.” He Luo smiled, keeping her hands hidden behind her.
Zheng Qing Yin ran over with a sweet smile. “Hey, you’re awesome today! What a beautiful alley-oop shot!”
“You can only consider it beautiful if it was an alley-oop dunk.” Zhang Yuan smiled lightly and turned around with an open palm. “Give it to me.”
“Take the time to wash up later. Our first cla.s.s in the afternoon is politics, we’ll be having a small quiz today.” He Luo placed the mineral water bottle in his hand and, with a smile, turned around to leave.
“Ah, don’t you like black tea the most?” Zheng Qing Yin took the mineral water away. “I have it here.”
“Mineral water is pretty good.”
“Black tea is better!” She stubbornly refused to change it.
“Then you drink it.” Zhang Yuan smiled. “I have such a big bottle with me.” He gestured. “It’s one litre, with chrysanthemum and boat sterculia seed, it’s very nourishing.”
“Look at them. It’s almost time for cla.s.s and they’re still not done with their conversation!” Li Yun Wei grumpily said. “And you really turned around and left.”
“I think it’s fine.” Tian Xin put on the air of a learned old person. “He Luo’s performance was too amazing, confident and generous. That’s the aura the official wife should have.”
“What nonsense are you sprouting?” He Luo rushed over at Tian Xin and pulled her cheeks with a smile. “Be careful that I’ll pull your tongue out.”
There were still a number of students doing their homework after school. There was a little green box sitting on top of He Luo’s desk.
“Eh? It’s apple-flavoured candy!” Li Yun Wei picked up one and placed it into her mouth. “How sour!” Her entire face was scrunched together.
“I also have one.” Zhang Yuan walked over to them and showed them a similar candy box, but it was of a lavender colour.
“Yours should be empty?”
“Who said. It’s all money.” Zhang Yuan shook the box, there was a clanking sound. He placed the box on the desk, opened it, revealing a treasure box full of coins. He immediately covered it. “Did you see it? It’s a private fund!” He sounded like a child, as if he was Doreamon who was trying hard to buy dorayaki.
Bai Lian gave He Luo half of an apple she had peeled. “Come, help me with this question.”
“Ah, you jumped the queue!” Zhang Yuan s.n.a.t.c.hed the apple and took a bite before handing it to He Luo. “She promised to teach me grammar. She had already signed the slave contract with me.”
“Are you asking for a thrashing?” He Luo stared at him wide-eyed. “I can get an apple after helping Bai Lian, what are you giving me for compensation?”
“I’ll give you a tip [money],” Zhang Yuan said with a laugh. He fished a few coins from Li Yun Wei’s pencil case.
“Use your own money,” Li Yun Wei protested.
“I need to save for my wedding fund, it’s a very tedious task!” Zhang Yuan firmly said.
“It’s all for the same person anyway, why care about it?” Tian Xin laughed, her excitement rising. He Luo shoved the apple back into Zhang Yuan’s hand. “Look at your bleeding gums, hurry up and eat more vegetables and fruits.”
“I really can’t stand you two. It feels so sour to see you two being all touchy-feely,” Li Yun Wei lamented. “Let’s go home. I’ll go home and eat dumplings without the vinegar.”
“Zhang Yuan, can I stay in your cla.s.s for a little while?” Zheng Qing Yin popped her head at the door. “My cla.s.s faces the north, it’s too cold.”
“Little girl, the reason why our cla.s.s is so warm is because we have too many lightbulbs [third wheels] here.” Tian Xin pointed at her nose. “And it’s also the ultra-wattage lightbulbs.”
“How come I can’t see any?” Zheng Qing Yin frowned.
“You’re still young. What isn’t appropriate for children, you won’t be able to see.” While Tian Xin was still smiling, she felt a paper ball being thrown at her head with precision. She didn’t even have to turn to know He Luo and Zhang Yuan were both flushed with anger [or excitement].
Zheng Qing Yin was biting on her lower lip, her breathing heavy. She carefully scanned the boys and girls sitting in the cla.s.sroom before turning towards Zhang Yuan again. “Why are you not going home? Are you staying to be a lightbulb?”
“Can’t you tell? They’re the electrodes.” Tian Xin languidly said, pointing behind her.
Following the direction of Tian Xin’s pointing, Zheng Qing Yin saw two girls sitting side by side. She ran towards Bai Lian and stared at her for a good moment, her chest heaving. “Is it just because she’s prettier than me?”
The apple Bai Lian was eating got caught in her throat and she coughed. She waved her hand. “You have the wrong person. I need to leave this gossip-filled place.”
“It’s her?” Zheng Qing Yin scrutinised He Luo and snorted. She turned to Zhang Yuan. “Can you come out for a moment? I need to talk to you.”
Zhang Yuan smiled but said nothing, only staring helplessly at He Luo.
“I’ll go home first. I’ll help you with your grammar tomorrow.” He Luo began to pack.
“It’s fine if you listen in,” Zheng Qing Yin interrupted. “I don’t care if you listen.”
After the three of them settled in a McDonalds restaurant, Zheng Qing Yin asked, “Is it because she’s the first girl who confessed to you and you find it difficult to turn her down?”
“No.” Zhang Yuan shook his head.
“Is it because she often tutored you in English and you were touched?” she asked.
“Not that either.”
“Then what is so good about her? She isn’t even attentive about you.” Zheng Qing Yin’s eyes reddened. “When you sweated so heavily after a game, she doesn’t even hand you a towel. When you’re dressed so lightly, she doesn’t even give you your jacket after the game. You definitely don’t eat during lunch time; I saw you buying bread in the afternoon, eating as you cross the road. She totally isn’t attentive about you.” As she continued, her voice choked with emotion. “I-If it’s me, I-I-I w-will bring a homemade lunch box… I-I like you more than she does…” She sobbed, staring at He Luo. “D-Do you know, you have him but don’t cherish him… you can’t deprive others of the right to like him.”
“You. You must have read Liu Yong’s books.” He Luo’s mouth was slightly open. She can only think of this to say.
“Doesn’t cherish me? I don’t think so.” Zhang Yuan held her hand under the table. “We both just didn’t want to do any intimate actions in school.”
“You’re always protecting her…” Zheng Qing Yin’s cries became even more anguished. “Do you really like her that much?” She turned to lean into Zhang Yuan’s arms but he stopped her at the shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“You really won’t comfort me at all?” Her tears were gushing. “Then will you hug her?”
“Of course I will.”
“Will you kiss her?”
“I don’t have the chance at the moment, I will try and fight for it in the future.” His hand was pinched by a certain someone.
“Then… will you marry her in the future?”
“This is too far ahead in the future.” Zhang Yuan burst out laughing. But after thinking for a moment, he said, “I’m including that in my future plans.”
“If you’re willing to spend your lifetime with her, then you probably really like her,” Zheng Qin said sadly. She sprawled on the table, sobbing heartily.
Which other writer is she quoting this from? He Luo sighed and went next to her. “You’re very straightforward, very cute, also very brave,” she said. “I know you’re really upset but I’m sorry. I can only be selfish in this matter.”
“You’re hateful, I hate you!” Zheng Qing Yin placed her forehead in He Luo’s chest, pounding her arms. “I hate you, I hate you.”
“Just cry, cry it all out. You’ll feel better.” He Luo caressed her back.
“You’re really lucky.” Zhang Yuan smiled. “I haven’t even hug her yet.” He Luo widened her eyes at him. He immediately said, “I’ll go buy some food, you must all be hungry?”
Zheng Qing Yin had tired herself out crying and was now quietly eating two fried chicken wings. The Mercedes-Benz had been waiting outside the restaurant for a good while. Without saying anything, she boarded the car. But she suddenly rolled down the window and told Zhang Yuan, “I like you! I like you now, I’ll like you forever! If there comes a day where you don’t want her anymore, you must tell me.”
“Okay.” Zhang Yuan grinned. “But I think you won’t be able to wait till the 22nd century.”
“You…” Zheng Qing Yin snorted.
“Why are the kids these days so fierce?” Zhang Yuan shook his head as he watched the car drove away.
“I quite pity her,” He Luo said. “There’s nothing wrong with liking a person.”
“You’re really generous.” Zhang Yuan put on a serious expression and nodded. “En, you have the aura of an official wife.”
“Who told you that?” She wanted to rip the girl’s mouth off.
“Even if you kill me, I can’t betray my seatmate.” He burst out laughing. “If there’s an official wife, that means I can have a second wife, a third, a fourth, an eighth, a ninth.”
“Don’t be so happy. You don’t even have an official wife. Did you forget the fortune-telling? You won’t have a wife in your entire life.”
“I really won’t have one?”
“No!”
“Really won’t have one?”
“No!”
“I am really wronging you.” Zhang Yuan sincerely said. “You’re following me purely based on affection without even an official t.i.tle.”
“Be careful that I knock your teeth out.” He Luo waved her fist.
“You’re the one who originally said not to reveal our relationship,” Zhang Yuan said. “The others have actually noticed that we have been gradually becoming closer.”
“It’s because Tian Xin and the rest like to gossip.” She lowered her head, tugging at his sleeve. “It’s not that I don’t want to be attentive and take care of you. I just don’t want there to be a lot of talk about us. The teachers and parents will find out about us.”
“What’s there to worry about, did we let our studies suffer?” Zhang Yuan retorted. “It seems like we even did better this time than in our finals.”
He Luo thought, you don’t understand what my dad thinks. He thinks of me as a literature top scholar. Her head ached when she thought about Dad, of him pointing at the school ranking last year and saying, “40th place. If you can knock off the zero, how nice will it be.”
Noticing that she did not say anything, Zhang Yuan immediately added, “Okay, okay. If you want to keep it a secret, then we’ll keep it a secret. But there’ll be little girls coming to look for me. You can’t be jealous or sulk quietly.”
“You think too highly of yourself.”
“Ah, didn’t you notice.” Zhang Yuan rubbed his chin. “I’m still pretty handsome. You need to look closer.”
“Then can’t you be a little aware of yourself?” He Luo burst out laughing.
“Oh, then I’ll be a little more aware in consideration that you brought me the chrysanthemum and boat sterculia seed drink.” Zhang Yuan also laughed. “Ay, I’m not even full, let’s go and eat again. How about apple pie? I like that most.”
“Don’t you like black tea the most?” He Luo raised her eyebrow teasingly.
“And you said you weren’t jealous.” Zhang Yuan made a “ha” sound and avoided He Luo’s fist. He leaned in sideways, and whispered next to her ear, “But you look especially cute when you’re jealous.”