The Third Brother's New Deskmate

The next day, Fu Yanzhi got up early to make some cookies. Because Huanhuan had performed well last night, Fu Yanzhi promised to make him cookies tomorrow. After finishing the cookies, Fu Yanzhi divided them into six portions and then went to wake his younger brothers up.

After waking the two little lazybones up, the younger brothers ate breakfast at the dining table, and Zheng Long drove them to school. Fu Yanzhi went back to his room to catch up on sleep. He still had things to busy himself with today.

After sending the four little ones into primary school, Zheng Long drove toward the middle school, dropping Bo Qing and Wen Shiming off at the middle school gates.

As soon as he got out of the car, Wen Shiming hugged the box filled with cookies. Waving goodbye to Zheng Long, he grabbed his second brother's hand and ran into the campus.

Arriving at the classroom, Wen Shiming put the cookies into his desk compartment. Seeing this, the person behind him asked curiously, "Shiming, what's in this box?"

Wen Shiming proudly lifted his chin: "These are cookies made by my older brother!"

Upon hearing this, the person behind him lit up: "Wow, your oldest brother is too amazing. He even knows how to make cookies. Can you give me a taste?"

Wen Shiming thought about it and smiled: "Sure, everyone come and taste my oldest brother's handiwork. They're super delicious."

Then Wen Shiming took the cookies out and distributed them to his classmates. Everyone ate them with great relish, and successively praised Huanhuan for having a good oldest brother.

The class bell rang, and Wen Shiming saw the head teacher leading a new classmate and standing at the doorway. That person lowered his head, and his shoulder-length black hair soft as fluff clung to both sides of his cheeks, the ends still bearing a slight natural curl that swayed gently when the wind blew, like a timid reed.

"This is Liu Xu. Starting today, he is joining our class, and from now on he is a member of our class. Everyone must help each other in the future." As soon as the head teacher's voice finished, the whole class's gaze gathered over.

Liu Xu's fingers gripped the straps of his schoolbag, his knuckles turning pale, and he buried his head even lower, as if wanting to hide himself inside his oversized school uniform.

The head teacher looked at Liu Xu and said, "You can just sit in the second row next to Wen Shiming."

Liu Xu nodded, then walked toward Wen Shiming.

Wen Shiming noticed that his eyelashes were very long, casting a small shadow under his eyes when they drooped, and he thought quietly to himself: This new deskmate is actually so good-looking, like a girl in a manga.

When Liu Xu was arranged to sit in the empty seat next to him, Wen Shiming poked his arm and handed over a piece of cookie: "Hello there, my name is Wen Shiming, and from now on we'll be deskmates."

Liu Xu's body clearly stiffened for a moment, and it took him a long time to slowly raise his head.

His eyes were very bright, yet draped with a layer of timidity, and his voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzzing: "I, my name is Liu Xu." It was a clear teenage boy's voice. The cookie in Wen Shiming's hand almost wasn't held steady—turn out he wasn't a girl? Then why keep long hair?

Before he had time to retract his expression of surprise, he saw Liu Xu quickly lower his head, burying his face in the crook of his arm, his shoulders trembling slightly.

Wen Shiming was a little at a loss, not knowing whether his reaction had hurt the new deskmate. He hurriedly said in a soft voice: "I'm sorry, ah, I was a bit surprised just now, didn't mean to. Have a taste of these cookies, made by my oldest brother, they're super delicious."

After a while, Liu Xu slowly raised his head, his eyes red. He took the cookie and whispered a "thank you."

Wen Shiming didn't keep pursuing "why do you keep long hair," instead pointing at a wispy lock of hair behind Liu Xu's ear and saying: "Your hair is so soft, it floats when the wind blows, even better-looking than some girls' hair."

At that moment, Liu Xu's hand grasping the pen suddenly stopped shaking, and even the blurred handwriting on the textbook became clear.

This was the first time someone saw his long hair without revealing a disgusted smile, without calling him a "freak," and even more without reaching out to pull his braids. Neither did they show an expression of aversion.

In the subsequent classes, Wen Shiming would occasionally steal a glance at Liu Xu, discovering that he listened to the lecture very attentively and took his notes very neatly as well.

During the break between classes, Wen Shiming actively struck up a conversation with Liu Xu, wanting to make him relax a bit. But for every ten sentences Wen Shiming spoke, Liu Xu managing to reply to one was already not bad.

As soon as the lunch break bell rang, Wen Shiming looked at Liu Xu still sitting in his seat, hesitating and not moving, so he took the initiative to get up: "The cafeteria is on the west side of the first floor. You're here for the first time and definitely won't find it. I'll take you there, okay?"

Liu Xu raised his eyes to look at him, his eyes concealing a trace of bewilderment, and finally nodded, following behind him out of the classroom.

Just as they reached the cafeteria entrance, a boy wearing a second-year middle school uniform waved at them; it was Wen Shiming's second brother, Bo Qing.

"This is my deskmate, Liu Xu." Wen Shiming pulled Liu Xu over to introduce him, and then said to Bo Qing, "Second Brother, he is the one who just transferred to our school today."

Bo Qing smiled and patted Wen Shiming's shoulder, his tone gentle when he looked at Liu Xu: "Hello, very nice to meet you."

Liu Xu gripped the corner of his clothes and whispered a "hello."

The three of them had just found seats and sat down when a deliberately amplified sound of footsteps came from behind.

Fu Li stood by the table with his hands in his pockets, his gaze staring straight at Wen Shiming, his tone carrying provocation: "Wen Shiming, I heard your asshole oldest brother is back. I thought he'd been out of contact for a month and had already died, what a pity."

Wen Shiming abruptly stood up, his eyes wide with anger, his hands tightly clenched into fists: "Your mother's! Daring to talk about my oldest brother! I'll fucking wipe you out."

Bo Qing also stood up following him, blocking in front of Wen Shiming, and looked coldly at Fu Li: "Fu Li, you're here looking for trouble, right."

Fu Li sneered dismissively and spoke up: "Bo Qing, don't lean on your good studies to think I wouldn't dare hit you. How many times have I said it, stay away from Wen Shiming, or else I'll deal with you together."

Just as the atmosphere was on the verge of breaking out, Liu Xu, who had been silent all along, suddenly stood up. His gaze was no longer timid, instead revealing a trace of firmness. He blocked in front of Wen Shiming, and though his voice was not loud, it carried unquestionable power: "Please show some respect and do not hurt people with your words."

Fu Li hadn't expected this timid-looking new classmate to stand up. After being stunned for a moment, he smiled disdainfully: "Yo, where did this little rat come from, daring to meddle in other people's business."

As he spoke, he reached out to push Liu Xu. Right as his hand was about to touch Liu Xu, Wen Shiming was quick of eye and deft of hand, grabbing Fu Li's wrist and twisting it hard. Fu Li let out an "ouch" of pain.

Bo Qing also seized the opportunity to step forward and push Fu Li backward. Fu Li stumbled and almost fell. The surrounding students all gathered around, successively condemning Fu Li's actions.

Seeing that the situation was unfavorable, Fu Li glared at them, dropped a "you guys just wait for me," and scurried off.

Wen Shiming looked at Liu Xu and said gratefully: "Thank you, Liu Xu."

Wen Shiming gratefully glanced at Liu Xu, while Liu Xu lowered his head a little embarrassedly.

The surrounding clamor gradually subsided, and the three of them sat down again, though none of them had the appetite to eat anymore. Wen Shiming looked at Liu Xu, his heart full of emotion; he hadn't expected this timid-looking deskmate to be so brave at a critical moment.

Bo Qing patted Liu Xu's shoulder and praised approvingly: "Thanks just now for Classmate Liu's righteous assistance."

Liu Xu blushed and said softly, "I... I just couldn't stand him bullying people. It's nothing."

Wen Shiming smiled and bantered: "From now on you are our good brother!"

The corners of Liu Xu's mouth raised slightly, revealing a shy smile.

After eating, Wen Shiming and Liu Xu returned to the classroom. As soon as they entered the classroom, Wen Shiming discovered that his desk compartment had been rummaged through in a mess, the cookie box was also thrown on the ground, and the cookies were scattered everywhere.

The classmate behind them leaned over and whispered: "Shiming, the cookies—a few upperclassmen came to the classroom to do this just now."

Wen Shiming's face flushed red with anger, and just as he was about to rush out to settle accounts with Fu Li, Liu Xu grabbed him: "Don't be impulsive."

Wen Shiming took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger. At this moment, the class bell rang, and the teacher walked into the classroom and started lecturing. But how could Wen Shiming have the heart to listen to the lecture? His entire mind was filled with the ruined cookies and Fu Li's arrogant face.

Liu Xu looked at Wen Shiming's appearance, gripping the pen in his hand tightly.

With much difficulty, they endured until the end of class. Wen Shiming was preparing to go find Fu Li again when he saw the head teacher leading Fu Li into the classroom.

As it turned out, Liu Xu had told the teacher about the matter in the cafeteria and the cookies. The teacher sternly criticized Fu Li and also made him apologize to Wen Shiming and Liu Xu.

Fu Li extremely reluctantly said an "I'm sorry." Wen Shiming looked at that look of his, snorted, and said: "This apology really has no sincerity."

However, the matter could be considered temporarily brought to a close. After school, Wen Shiming, Liu Xu, and Bo Qing walked out of the campus together, and Wen Shiming smiled and said: "Today was all thanks to you, ah, Liu Xu. If you have time, come to my house and we'll play together!"

Liu Xu shyly nodded and said: "I'll go if I have time."

Zheng Long's car had already arrived at the school gates. After Wen Shiming, Bo Qing, and Liu Xu said their goodbyes, they got into the car.

Walking on the road home, Liu Xu pulled the straps of his schoolbag tighter onto his shoulders. The new school badge swung back and forth on his chest; in the photograph, his head teacher had ordered his hair to be tied behind his neck with a black rubber band, hanging against the hollow of his neck like a clump of loosely tied cotton wool, making it itch.

On the way home, girls ran past laughing, their ponytails swinging into light and lively arcs, and Liu Xu unconsciously shrank his neck. In the old school's restroom, the sound of those boys pressing his head into the sink while freezing water poured into his ears was still ringing—"A freak still dares to come to school?" "Isn't keeping long hair sickening?" He gripped the comb inside his schoolbag, the tips of its teeth pressing painfully against his palm—that was what his father had insisted he bring before leaving the house this morning.

The key was inserted into the keyhole and turned twice; the entryway light was not turned on. His father sat in the shadows of the living room, the glowing dot of a cigarette butt flickering. On the table sat his mother's memorial portrait, the photo frame wiped until it shone. "Did the people at the new school today say anything about your hair?"

Liu Xu didn't answer. His father sat on the sofa, his fingers fondling his mother's old photograph, the edges of the frame worn down until they gleamed. "Did the teachers at the new school today say anything?" His father's voice was very soft, yet like vines wrapping around Liu Xu's neck, "Was your hair cut by anyone?"

Liu Xu shook his head, placing his schoolbag on the entryway cabinet, not daring to lift his eyes to look into his father's eyes. He knew what he would hear next—ever since he could remember, his father always said in front of his mother's memorial portrait, "Xuxu has to keep long hair like Mom, Mom likes girls the most." "You are Mom's substitute; if you cut your hair, Mom will never come back again."

These words pierced into his heart like needles. Every time the barbershop master picked up the scissors, he would think of his father's red-rimmed eyes, and then run out of the barbershop crying.

"Tomorrow I'll braid your hair for you," his father stood up, walked over to him, and reached out to brush across his long hair. The temperature of the fingertips made Liu Xu want to dodge. "Your mom used to love weaving hair for me like this the most." A sort of nearly pathological gentleness carried in his voice, "You have to be good, don't let Mom down."

His father's voice was very soft, yet like a rope tangled on Liu Xu's heart.

Just as he wanted to open his mouth to say that someone laughed at his hair being long, his father had already stood up, reaching out to brush across the tips of his hair; the temperature of the fingertips made his whole body stiffen.

"How nice this hair is, exactly the same as your mom's back then." His father's gaze fell on his face, yet as if looking at another person, "If you were a girl, that would be great, you could stay with me all the time and wouldn't abandon me like your mom did."

Liu Xu's fingernails pinched into his palm. He knew he couldn't refute; last time he said he wanted to cut his hair, his father slapped him across the face and locked him in his room, leaving him hungry for an entire day, saying, "You cutting your hair means you want to make your mom completely disappear."

He had heard of the cause of his mother's death from neighbors chatting: that she had hemorrhaged severely while giving birth to him and couldn't be saved. Ever since then, his father had dug out his mother's dresses for him to wear, made him keep long hair, and said, "You living means living in place of your mom."

The moon outside the window was obscured by clouds, and the room was quiet enough to hear the ticking of the clock. His father went to the kitchen to heat milk. Liu Xu stood in front of the mirror, looking at his long-haired self in the mirror.

A small section of a pink hair tie was exposed below the collar of his school uniform; it was what his father had forcefully tied on him yesterday, saying, "Girls all tie it like this."

He raised his hand wanting to pull the hair tie off, but the moment his fingers touched his hair, he abruptly shrank them back—he was afraid his father would get angry, and even more afraid of remembering the cold water in the old school's restroom and the snickering in the new school's hallway.

The milk was placed on the table, steaming. His father sat across from him, watching him drink in small sips, and suddenly said: "Next week I'll take you to buy a new skirt. Your mom liked that store's styles the most before."

Liu Xu's Adam's apple moved. The heat of the milk blurred his vision, and he didn't speak, only burying his face lower, letting his long hair cover most of his face and also hiding the unshed tears in his eyes.

The wind in the alley swept across the window, carrying the chill of late autumn. Liu Xu knew that tomorrow when he went to school, people would still laugh at his hair, but he knew even more that as long as his father still wanted him to live in place of his mother, this hair could never be cut off, and he could forever only play "another person's shadow" in his father's eyes.

Liu Xu lay in bed, and somehow, in the depths of his mind inadvertently, he thought of that silly-smiling Wen Shiming. He thought of how he praised his hair as pretty today.

Liu Xu closed his eyes, for the first time secretly thinking in his heart: Perhaps this hair doesn't necessarily have to only be his mother's shadow.

Perhaps tomorrow, he didn't have to comb his hair into a tight braid, but could just let it loose like this; maybe Wen Shiming would even say another sentence: "Your hair today is also very good-looking." In the darkness, the corners of his mouth lifted up a little bit gently.

And on Wen Shiming's side, ever since Wen Shiming returned home, he had said Liu Xu's name more than a dozen times, praising how wonderful his new deskmate was, to the point that Fu Yanzhi and the others all wanted to fly over to the other person's house right now to see who had infatuated their family's third brother into this state.