I'm Straight

Doctor Li insisted that he stay for two days of observation. Only if nothing was wrong with him after those two days would he be allowed to go back to class. Otherwise, the doctor would have to notify his parents.

It had been many years since anyone had threatened to "notify his parents," and Cen Xia found himself cracking a smile when he heard it.

Doctor Li didn't understand what he found funny and left with a bewildered look on his face.

Lin Jiandu said he would bring him meals, but Cen Xia flatly refused.

He could order delivery, and the cafeteria would also deliver food to the infirmary. There was really no need to trouble Lin Jiandu.

After school that afternoon, Ding Yiheng came by.

As soon as he arrived, his eyes darted everywhere, as if he were looking for something.

Cen Xia had nothing at hand, or he would have been tempted to throw it at him.

"What are you doing?"

"Where's Lin Jiandu? Isn't he here? Did he go back?" Not one of the three questions had anything to do with Cen Xia, the "patient."

"...Did you really come to see me?"

"Both, both." Ding Yiheng chuckled and finally asked about him. "What kind of illness do you have? Doctor Li said you nearly died from the pain last night."

Cen Xia said breezily, "Just a minor illness. It won't kill me."

Seeing that his complexion was rosy and he really didn't look unwell, Ding Yiheng leaned closer and said ingratiatingly, "About what I mentioned this morning..."

Cen Xia pushed his face away. "No. I don't know him well. Even if I were to share his contact with you, I'd have to ask if he agreed first."

The two of them had exchanged not only names but also contact information at noon.

Ding Yiheng didn't press him. After a second of disappointment, he cheerfully started sharing some gossip.

"I only found out in my specialty class today that the guy named Zhou... Zhou Zanli! Zhou Zanli chose fencing, just like me. I didn't even notice him in the first few classes."

"If I hadn't seen Shen Si call him away after class, I probably wouldn't even have been able to put a name to his face," Ding Yiheng said. "But his friend is pretty loyal. When he heard he'd been called away, he went straight after him."

"And then?" Cen Xia waited for him to continue.

"I don't know." Ding Yiheng picked up an apple from the table by the window. "Want one?"

The fruit basket was one he had brought himself.

"Have it yourself."

Ding Yiheng rinsed it with water and bit straight into it without peeling it. It was crisp and sweet.

He chatted about trivial things as he ate.

"My cousin is running herself ragged over student council recruitment right now. So many people want to join that she can't even get through all the applications."

"I heard the Disciplinary Group is recruiting too, but I don't know anyone in it. I'd really like to join, though. Then I could abuse my power for personal gain and sneak out to have fun at night."

Listening to him crunch away, Cen Xia finally couldn't resist and asked Ding Yiheng to wash one for him too.

The two of them ate their apples together.

"It's the clubs' turn to recruit next week. Is there one you want to join?" Ding Yiheng chewed and chewed. "I really want to join the Silver Club, but they definitely wouldn't be interested in someone like me."

"Didn't you just say you wanted to join the Disciplinary Group?"

"Ah, one doesn't stop the other. I can't get into either of them anyway. I've actually made up my mind to join the Archery Club."

Cen Xia was at a loss for words over his fickleness.

"Any ideas? If not, join the Archery Club with me. A good buddy of mine is in it, and he can get us in through the back door."

Cen Xia wasn't very interested in these clubs and said halfheartedly, "We'll see."

The two of them munched their apples down, but still wanted more, so they went and washed two more.

Before Ding Yiheng came, Cen Xia had planned to order delivery. Now that he had two apples in his stomach, he no longer felt hungry.

He had spent all day in the ward and wanted to go out for a walk.

The two walked side by side down the corridor. Ding Yiheng remarked, "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have known the school infirmary was this big. It's practically no different from a hospital. The school really is rich."

Cen Xia raised an eyebrow. "With seven-figure annual tuition, how could it not be?"

Ding Yiheng continued, "And it really isn't stingy about spending its money."

The two were chatting casually when the door to the ward beside them suddenly made a soft noise, and a figure pushed it open and came out.

When Ding Yiheng saw the person's face, he said in surprise, "Zhou Zanli?"

Hearing his name, Zhou Zanli suddenly flinched, as if startled. He looked up and met Ding Yiheng's gaze, then hurriedly looked away and gave a hasty nod by way of greeting.

Before Ding Yiheng could say another word, Zhou Zanli hurried off.

Ding Yiheng scratched the back of his head. "Strange. Why was he here?"

Cen Xia glanced casually toward the ward Zhou Zanli had just left, then his gaze abruptly stopped.

The person lying in the hospital bed was Shi Su.

Seeing him stop, Ding Yiheng followed his gaze.

"Shi Su? Was he... beaten up? Tsk, Shen Si really went hard on him."

Cen Xia looked away, puzzled. "So many people like the president. Why is Shen Si so fixated on Shi Su in particular?"

"At Kanlitel, being a special-admission student is an original sin." Ding Yiheng put an arm around his shoulders and walked on.

"We have to pay exorbitant tuition every year just to stay here. They, on the other hand, get the best education without paying a cent. Once they graduate, Kanlitel's golden name alone will give them opportunities and prospects that ordinary people couldn't touch in a lifetime."

"They get all the benefits, then turn around and accuse us of acting superior and looking down on everyone. Demanding equality every time they open their mouths? What a joke. There's no such thing as equality in this world. Those who came before them narrowed the road, so they can't blame us for how things are today."

It was the first time Cen Xia had heard this argument.

"Shi Su's personality isn't well suited to Kanlitel. He's too unbending. What Shen Si and the others dislike most is a hard bone, not to mention he's gotten involved with the president." Ding Yiheng shook his head, seeming to find it a pity.

"There's a forum post discussing when Shi Su will finally bow his head. I don't think it'll be easy."

Cen Xia thought for a moment and said, "Shi Su isn't like what I saw... imagined."

"Imagined?"

"It's hard to say. He's just different. People are complex individuals. Unless they're like robots, programmed when they leave the factory, no one can see through someone else completely."

The two crossed the central square and walked along the lake.

After yesterday's heavy rain, the trees lining the road looked brighter, and there was a hint of damp earth in the air.

Two boys came toward them by the lake, holding hands without the slightest concern for who saw them. They looked like they were on a date.

Ding Yiheng spotted them and said, perplexed, "Our school has a lot of boys, but there are plenty of girls too. Why is everyone gay?"

Cen Xia didn't answer aloud, but he answered in his heart.

Because this is the world of a danmei novel.

"Hey, do you like boys or girls?" Ding Yiheng asked on a whim.

Cen Xia parted his lips and said, "I'm a straight guy."

Ding Yiheng raised his hand. "I'm going to ask the school to give special protection to the two of us, some of the few straight guys left."

They walked along the lake for a while and saw quite a few couples.

"Have you ever dated?" Ding Yiheng asked enviously as yet another boy and girl passed by holding hands.

Dated? The question caught Cen Xia off guard. He really hadn't.

In the world outside the book, he was nearly thirty, but he had never liked anyone. For one thing, he had been too busy; for another, his previous profession had brought him into contact with very few people of the opposite sex.

Later, when he had free time at home, he had barely gone out, so he really hadn't had many chances to date.

"Of course not. The most important thing for us right now should be studying," he said righteously.

Ding Yiheng said, "...I'll just wait and see if you can stay as resolute as you sound."