"Those two, are they getting close?"
Gu Wang glanced over, then calmly looked away. "Hard to say. Shen Zhao's a little slow on the uptake."
Song Zhiyan thought about it. That was true. Shen Zhao had never dated. There might have been people who liked him-he did have such a delicate face, after all-but his personality scared them all off. His heart wasn't easy to pry open, and once you did, you discovered he didn't have one.
Song Zhiyan pondered for a moment, then lowered his voice. "What are you and He Qinghuan planning to do? You can't keep things this ambiguous forever."
Gu Wang paused, then said mildly, "We'll see."
The watermelon juice was ice-cold, but the more Gu Wang drank, the hotter and more restless he felt. He pulled out a tissue and wiped the nonexistent sweat from his face.
"Then how do you know whether he likes you because he can't accept losing you, or for some other reason?" Song Zhiyan thought about these things more. This bothered him even more than it bothered Gu Wang.
He wanted He Qinghuan to like Gu Wang for who he was, simply and sincerely.
Gu Wang said nothing. He couldn't speak up for He Qinghuan, because he hadn't even considered any of the questions Song Zhiyan had raised.
He asked Song Zhiyan a different question. "What counts as liking someone?"
Song Zhiyan froze. The question was rather pointed, but also far too broad.
Objectively speaking, he felt that He Qinghuan definitely liked Gu Wang. He absolutely hadn't before, but he absolutely did now. The way He Qinghuan had behaved before had been so vile that Song Zhiyan had wanted to beat him to death.
The things he knew He Qinghuan had done for Gu Wang hadn't seemed like much at first, but later they became increasingly obvious and numerous. Even he could see it.
But he was on Gu Wang's side, so he felt that nothing was enough.
On the podium, He Qinghuan handed the microphone to a senior girl and came down the steps.
He was coming to find Gu Wang.
Gu Wang looked toward him.
A scene burst into Gu Wang's mind as He Qinghuan walked toward him.
The Original Host hadn't died. He had merely lost the ability to walk. He Qinghuan pushed open the hospital room door and walked toward the Original Host in just the same way. He crouched beside the bed, softly said, "I'm sorry," then asked, "Wangwang, I'm taking you away. Will you come with me?"
From an omniscient perspective, Gu Wang saw that whether the Original Host agreed or not, he would have to leave with He Qinghuan in the end. He Qinghuan had brought quite a few people. He had come specifically to take the Original Host away.
Fortunately, the Original Host agreed.
One of his subordinates pushed the wheelchair, while He Qinghuan carried the Original Host out of the hospital. In the car, He Qinghuan looked at the soundly sleeping Original Host and smiled softly. He instructed the person beside him, "Tell Wangwang's family I've taken him abroad to recuperate. Mm, tell them he's dead in two months."
These were all parts of the plot Gu Wang hadn't known about.
He had only just come back to himself, and when He Qinghuan approached, he still hadn't quite returned to normal.
He Qinghuan raised a hand to touch Gu Wang's forehead and asked softly, "Too hot?"
Seeing that Gu Wang was drinking watermelon juice, he took a bottle of mineral water from the box beside them and unscrewed the cap as he said, "Sweet drinks don't quench your thirst."
He handed the mineral water to Gu Wang.
Gu Wang thanked him and took it, but kept holding it without drinking.
He Qinghuan in his twenties had clearly been more mature and composed than he was now, and even better at keeping his emotions hidden. He must have liked the Original Host very much. A gaze that tender and ardent couldn't be faked.
But it seemed too intense-so intense that even the present Gu Wang felt a chill down his back.
The entire tent fell quiet as soon as He Qinghuan arrived. He Qinghuan looked cool and serene, and wherever he went naturally grew quiet along with him.
Song Zhiyan sat beside Gu Wang, holding a fan that a classmate had received with an advertising leaflet while shopping outside. Printed on it was: Boya Andrology Hospital, rock-bottom summer prices! Circumcisions: buy one, get one free!
Having finished the long jump, Shen Zhao ran over covered in dirt and lunged at Gu Wang. Before Gu Wang could dodge, He Qinghuan reached out from beside him and stopped Shen Zhao. He looked at Yue Feng. "Take him off for a rinse."
Gu Wang and Shen Zhao and Yue Feng: "..."
Looking at the silent, awkward atmosphere, Song Zhiyan wiped away an old father's tears and offered a suggestion to lighten the mood. "How about we go out for hot pot tonight?"
Shen Zhao didn't care what they ate. He asked, "Your treat?"
Song Zhiyan smiled. "My treat, my ass. What's wrong with splitting the bill?"
Shen Zhao said, "Oh. We could split it three ways, too: you two split the bill, and I shamelessly tag along."
Everyone: "..."
Gu Wang had been holding the water for so long that it was probably warm by now. His eyes lowered, He Qinghuan took the bottle from his hand, opened another, and handed it to him. Only after Gu Wang drank did he raise his eyes and say mildly, "My treat."
Shen Zhao's eyes lit up at once. Yue Feng suddenly felt a little threatened. Song Zhiyan didn't care who paid, as long as it wasn't him.
Gu Wang and He Qinghuan appeared in the same frame again. This time it wasn't a photo, but a video-a video of He Qinghuan opening two bottles of water for Gu Wang.
[I want to be the cap in He Qinghuan's hand and the headband on Gu Wang's head.]
[Isn't it about time these two got together?]
[Please, no. Think how long Gu Wang chased He Qinghuan and how much he did. Why should Gu Wang agree after he's only pursued him for a few weeks?]
[I never thought they looked this good together before. In this video, Gu Wang's presence is every bit as strong as He Qinghuan's.]
[So, how do I put this? Let's just say they're evenly matched, get it? Unequal relationships don't last.]
[I sort of get it, but not really.]
[Am I the only one focused on the fact that He Qinghuan opened two bottles of water for Gu Wang? If Gu Wang hadn't drunk any, he'd probably have opened a third.]
[I noticed that too.]
[Me too. Who would've thought? He Qinghuan's possessiveness is kind of hot.]
[I like that sort of thing. I think it's harmless. It's not a big deal.]
[Maybe.]
The girls' two-hundred-meter race was that afternoon. Meng Ou was running, along with Lin Meng, the first-year girl who had confessed to Gu Wang last time.
Lin Meng wore her hair in two braids with a cluster of little strawberry clips. She was petite and incredibly fresh-faced. Before she even started running, boys had gathered around to fan her.
Gu Wang's gaze settled on Meng Ou. Meng Ou looked strikingly cool-the coolest of the six girls. Everyone else wore their school uniform or a T-shirt, but Meng Ou wore a pale purple sports tank top that showed off her beautifully defined abs. Her hair was tied up high, and her bare face was exceptionally beautiful, the cold, glamorous kind.
Beside him, Zeng Xiao clutched her heart. "Meng Ou, I'd date you too!"
Yang Yu glanced at her. "Give it a rest. You'd date practically everyone in our class."
Leaning against one of the tent's corner poles, Shen Zhao clicked his tongue twice. "Song Zhiyan, you've got a lot of rivals."
Song Zhiyan rummaged under the table for glucose and water. "You don't know shit. I'm going to move her with my love."
Yue Feng lowered his head. "She's running two hundred meters. Theoretically, she won't need glucose."
Song Zhiyan: "..."
Fuck!
As if having Shen Zhao undermine him before hadn't been enough, now there was Yue Feng too.
Gu Wang rested his legs on the crossbar beneath the table and leaned back in his chair, lazily waving a fan, his eyes narrowed. He had only just looked away from Meng Ou when He Qinghuan bent down over him.
He carried a minty scent. The moment he drew close, it swept straight over Gu Wang, as though enveloping him.
Gu Wang felt even hotter. He waved his fan, found it useless, and still felt hot.
Looking at Gu Wang's slightly flustered, irritated expression, He Qinghuan felt like laughing. When he had seen Gu Wang watching those girls on the track, his heart had sunk, and certain thoughts that couldn't bear the light had risen up.
He had wanted to give Gu Wang a little trouble.
But he still couldn't bear to. The moment he saw Gu Wang, he couldn't even bring himself to say a harsh word.
Author's note: He Dog: Lock him up, lock him up.
Gu Wang: So hot. I want water.
He Dog: Silently unscrews the cap...
Chapter 47
The sports meet ended at six thirty that evening. At that point, anyone who wanted to stay at school for self-study could do so, and anyone who wanted to go home could leave.
Gu Wang pulled off his headband and stuffed it into his desk while packing his homework into his schoolbag.
Even during the sports meet, Li Shuya had shown no intention of letting them off.
Shen Zhao moved fast, running over to lean on the windowsill beside Gu Wang. "Hot pot, hot pot!"
Gu Wang glanced at him. "Didn't you say you didn't care what we ate?"
Shen Zhao froze. "Didn't we agree?"
Gu Wang couldn't hold back a laugh. Realizing that Gu Wang was teasing him, Shen Zhao lunged over to pinch his face.
Almost everyone was still in the classroom. Half the class was staying for self-study.
Just then, someone appeared in the corridor. It was the young man from the school's fruit shop.
Jinyang High School did a good job in this respect, following a suggestion from students' parents. The supermarket didn't just sell snacks; some counters sold fruit and dairy products, ostensibly to supplement their vitamins and protein.
The fruit was even fresher than what was sold outside. Nothing was more precious than these students.
He came alone, carrying two large bags of clear takeaway containers, one in each hand. Both looked heavy. He walked straight to Gu Wang's classroom and called for the League Branch Secretary from the doorway.
Utterly confused and still unsure what was happening, Wen Ting went to the door and asked what he needed.
The young man set the two large bags of fruit on a nearby desk and handed Wen Ting the order slip. "Fifty-six boxes in total. Please check. One for everyone in your class."
Wen Ting froze, even more confused, but still checked the slip in her hand. It was for their class, and there were indeed fifty-six boxes. She nodded blankly.
"It's all washed, peeled, and cut. There are forks inside, so you can eat it straight away. It all arrived fresh today." The young man smiled, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. Having delivered everything, he left.
Wen Ting guessed that Li Shuya had bought it. When the classmates beside her asked, she told them it was from Li Shuya. Who else would splurge on prepared fruit for every one of them?
She asked the Physical Education Representative to help hand it out.
Shen Zhao's eyes lit up when he saw the fruit in Gu Wang's hands. Having heard what Wen Ting said, he remarked enviously, "Your homeroom teacher's so nice."
Gu Wang said mildly, "The kind of nice that gives you three extra test papers every day?"
Shen Zhao: "..."
Yue Feng came over from beside them. He had changed into a loose, oversized white tank top and looked like a punk. Throwing an arm around Shen Zhao's neck from behind, he said, "When I brought you some this morning, why didn't you say I was nice?"
Without even looking, Shen Zhao slapped a hand onto Yue Feng's face.
Gu Wang couldn't be bothered watching them. They could start a fight in two minutes and make up in another two.
He finished packing his homework. The takeaway container in his hand was still cold. Gu Wang lifted the lid. Half was cherries; the rest was Hami melon and black grapes.
They were all guaranteed to be sweet.
Gu Wang instinctively looked toward He Qinghuan, who had just zipped up his schoolbag and looked over at him.
They left the school gates together, with He Qinghuan and Gu Wang walking a little behind the others. Gu Wang popped a cherry into his mouth, glanced at He Qinghuan, and asked indistinctly, "Did you buy it?"
He Qinghuan didn't admit it outright. He asked, "Does it taste good?"
Gu Wang hesitated. "Mm."
The smile at the corners of He Qinghuan's mouth grew more pronounced.
Seven or eight in the evening was the liveliest time. The lights in the restaurant weren't very bright, a dim blue mixed with warm pink. Only above the table hung a lotus-shaped white lamp that didn't hurt the eyes.
The floor had probably just been cleaned. There was a faint smell of soapy water.
He Qinghuan had never asked Gu Wang what he liked to eat, but when he ordered, every dish he naturally chose was one Gu Wang liked.
Shrimp paste, fish slices, baby napa cabbage, potatoes.
Gu Wang was a little surprised when he saw them. In fact, he would hesitate for ages when ordering himself, because he seemed to like this and that, and would order a whole pile, only to end up eating just a few things.
Shen Zhao and Song Zhiyan were different. Drinks were the only things left unchecked on their menu.
The waitress asked at least five times, "Are you sure you can finish everything? I'd suggest..."
Gu Wang smiled at her. "Please put the order through."
He Qinghuan was paying anyway, and with two bottomless pits along, it wouldn't be a problem.
The food arrived quickly. Gu Wang wasn't in the habit of cooking his own food in hot pot. He held his chopsticks without moving. He Qinghuan glanced at him, and the first things he put into the pot were all Gu Wang's favorites.
Across from them, Yue Feng took a plate of duck blood