Class One’s atmosphere was much more normal compared to Class Nineteen.
The classroom was neatly filled with people, all dressed in the same black and white school uniforms, and there was no one running around during self-study time.
Although it was quiet around, many eyes still cast curious and awe-filled glances.
In this rare environment of being surrounded by normal people, Chi Han felt a bit uncomfortable.
Because Rong Xu needed a wheelchair, requiring more space than others, the two of them sat at the back, but this time by the window instead of the wall.
It was almost time for early self-study to end, and the bright morning sunlight streamed in through the windows. A gentle breeze slipped in, flipping a few pages of the books on Rong Xu’s desk.
Chi Han casually glanced around, and his gaze suddenly stopped.
The thick economics textbook was filled with densely packed small characters. Just a glance made Chi Han feel dizzy. However, what was out of place were two notes tucked inside the book.
The edges of the notes were torn and tattered, clearly ripped off carelessly.
Chi Han quickly recalled that these two notes were the ones he passed to Rong Xu during class, asking him what he wanted to eat after school.
This guy didn’t throw them away and even tucked them into the book?
Chi Han had a mild form of cleanliness, specifically when it comes to books. Usually, it was fine, but when it came to books, he was quite particular.
His books couldn’t be rolled or folded, and he couldn’t scribble or draw randomly inside them. Especially for these dog-chewed notes, they were strictly forbidden.
If these were Rong Xu’s items, Chi Han definitely wouldn’t touch them. However, these two pieces of torn notes were like scraps he randomly tore from scratch paper, with messy formulas written on them.
Placed next to neatly organized textbooks, they were just too distracting.
So, after Rong Xu returned from the restroom, he found that the little notes he deliberately tucked into the book were all gone.
Rong Xu: “…”
He flipped through the book a couple of times, then slowly turned his gaze to Chi Han, who was quietly writing vocabulary words on the side.
Chi Han innocently smiled at him without noticing anything.
—
In front of Chi Han was a girl with a high ponytail named Geng Xue. Her deskmate was a slightly chubby boy wearing glasses.
Geng Xue had been curious about these two newcomers within a month.
To suddenly have the top two students in the grade, even displacing the consistently top-ranked Fang Jingluo – it was just too abnormal!
Geng Xue discreetly turned her head to look behind. She happened to see Rong Xu concentrating on his book with a serious expression, while Chi Han beside him was furiously writing with a pained look.
“Is this enough? I really can’t remember what I said that day.”
Chi Han, in pain, scratched his head and laid it on the desk, unwilling to get up.
Rong Xu took a look at the written note and coldly said, “No, keep writing.”
Chi Han: “…”
Why did he have to throw away those notes out of curiosity?!
But who knew Rong Xu actually had a hidden hamster attribute, even collecting all the notes? What was the point of hoarding them?
Chi Han vented his frustration by poking the note with the pen tip twice, then sat up and continued writing.
Rong Xu neatly stacked all the notes Chi Han had just written and pressed them into the book. His fingertips traced over the thick pile of paper, and a faint smile appeared in his eyes, barely noticeable.
The words “willful” had never appeared in his dictionary.
But now, for the first time, he tasted the sweetness of it.
Geng Xue had various speculations about the new academic overachievers. She thought their relationship should be very good, hearing that they insisted on sitting together as desk mates before transferring. However, upon closer inspection, all her previous thoughts shattered into pieces.
Rong Xu’s strange and long hair, coupled with his fierce look, made people think he had a bad temper at first glance.
Ah, poor Chi Han! He must have been bullied by Rong Xu for so long that now he doesn’t even dare to resist.
As Geng Xue indulged in her imaginative oppression scenario between the two, she suddenly met a cold and fierce gaze.
Her breath hitched, and she quickly turned her head, swinging her high ponytail directly onto her desk mate, Gui Gaojie’s face.
Gui Gaojie: “…”
He raised his head, glanced at the glass door at the back, pushed his glasses, and whispered, “What’s wrong with you?”
Geng Xue rubbed her slightly cold palms, quickly glanced behind, drew a line on her neck with her fingertips, and made a rolling-eyes expression, implying that the person behind her should not be provoked; it would be deadly!
Gui Gaojie blinked his eyes, turned around in a somewhat simple manner, and greeted Rong Xu with a smile, “Hello, classmate. Is your throat uncomfortable? You can buy medicine at the school infirmary!”
Geng Xue: “…”
Help! Someone, please come and kill this silly guy!!!
Rong Xu didn’t even lift his head, utterly indifferent.
Chi Han folded the written notes and handed them to Rong Xu, waving his hand with a smile, “His throat is fine. Thank you, though.”
The youth bathed in the morning light, with a faint glow all around him.
His smile was breathtakingly beautiful.
Gui Gaojie had never seen someone who could smile so beautifully. Those light chestnut-colored eyes were bright and clear.
How should I put it?
It gives people a very clean and comfortable feeling.
Rong Xu dropped his pen with a “snap,” and his ink-black eyes lifted, emanating a chilling aura.
He said coldly, “Turn around.”
Gui Gaojie was startled by that gaze, and his chubby body shivered.
It felt like falling directly from the warmest heaven to the deepest hell!
He swallowed hard and quickly turned his head back.
Geng Xue lowered her body and said with a sense of remorse, “I told you not to provoke him! Who told you to turn around?!”
Gui Gaojie, feeling wronged, said, “How would I know he’s so fierce!”
On the first day, scaring the two students in the front row, Rong Xu showed no remorse. He continued calmly organizing the notes, marking the dates one by one, and neatly storing them away.
Looking at the obviously dejected front-row students, Chi Han half-jokingly and half-remindingly poked Rong Xu, “What happened just now? Look, you scared them.”
Rong Xu didn’t speak, still bowing his head to read.
Except for Chi Han, he didn’t care about the opinions of others.
Flipping over a page of the book, a trace of resentment flashed in his eyes.
Chi Han had long understood Rong Xu’s temper—reserved emotions, and many thoughts kept inside, even though he might be angry or upset, he always acted like everything was fine on the surface.
Chi Han couldn’t stand to see Rong Xu holding back his emotions. He believed that speaking out about many things would make them less painful.
Like just now, when he scared Geng Xue and Gui Gaojie away, he must be feeling uncomfortable somewhere inside.
“Ah? I’m asking you?”
Chi Han, undeterred by the lack of response, continued to poke and tease, “Speak up, what’s wrong? Who bothered you again? Look at this scary expression, hmm?”
Rong Xu, feeling annoyed, was not in a good mood. The jade pendant with a wolf tooth kept flashing before his eyes.
He really wanted to shatter it.
Rong Xu squinted his eyes, his fingertips subtly moved, but he didn’t absorb a single word from the book. An annoying sense of irritability surged through him.
It was too irritating.
Unfortunately, the main culprit was still bothering him without knowing when to stop. Rong Xu closed his eyes, his brow furrowed in frustration.
“Am I scary?”
This question left Chi Han momentarily stunned. He instinctively wanted to blurt out, “Scary my ass, you look so handsome,” but his gaze lingered on Rong Xu’s face.
Rong Xu’s hair was jet black, just like his eyes. He hadn’t cut it in who knows how long, and the bangs in front covered his eyes. Because his gaze was also devoid of warmth, he appeared even more gloomy. The hair behind his ears was neither long nor short, brushing against his neck.
In the middle of summer…
It must be uncomfortable, right?
Rong Xu’s dark eyes continued to stare at Chi Han, trying to find some traces on his face.
So many people disliked him and were afraid of him.
He hadn’t looked in the mirror for a long time, but it probably wouldn’t reveal anything good.
He hadn’t paid attention to it before, but now he realized that he might be like those creatures hiding in the darkness, peering out from the crevices.
Would Chi Han like this gaze?
Rong Xu urgently wanted to find the answer.
He was mad, he had gone mad a long time ago.
He wanted to firmly grasp onto this light, not allowing anyone to take it away.
However, while the light brought warmth, it also illuminated the enormous chasm in his heart.
Every day, Rong Xu collected Chi Han’s kindness towards him like someone with a pathological obsession. Only in this way could he slightly fill the gap.
But just as he filled a bit, a greater sense of emptiness would emerge, clamoring for even more.
Rong Xu didn’t know how to completely fill it. He was like a person who had not eaten for a long time, greedily staring at the sweet food in front of him, but not knowing where to start.
As numerous thoughts churned in the depths of his eyes, a slender finger suddenly lifted the stray hair from his forehead.
Chi Han used his thumb to measure the length of the ink-black hair that stood up from his index finger.
Hmm, indeed, it seemed a bit too long.
In a few days, the weather would be even hotter. It would be uncomfortable to keep it like this.
“Rong Xu, tomorrow during the break, I’ll take you to get a haircut. Your hair has grown a bit long.”
Rong Xu: “…”
The emotions in his eyes condensed for a moment, then dissipated by more than half in an instant.
After a moment, he helplessly turned his face back and lowered his eyelids.
Chi Han always had the ability to stir up his own emotions, and then effortlessly calm them down.
Geng Xue was trembling with fear in front as she heard Rong Xu’s cold inquiry about whether he scared people or not. Big brother, do you need others to say it? No, describing it as frightening is an understatement. It should be more like terrifying!
While she was contemplating and silently mourning for the fact that Chi Han got stuck with such a terrifying desk mate, she suddenly heard the young man behind her chuckle softly, a gentle sound that made her cheeks flush.
“Your hair has grown long. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to get a haircut, okay?”
After a short pause, the previously fierce Rong Xu actually agreed! He even insisted that Chi Han should personally cut his hair!
Compared to the earlier command for Gui Gaojie to turn around, his tone could now be described as completely obedient!
Geng Xue: “!!!”
Oh no, she seemed to have encountered something strange.
Gui Gaojie finished writing the last word, looking at his deskmate with a bewildered expression. She was shivering in fear just a moment ago, but how come she’s now smiling so radiantly?
Truly, he doesn’t understand the world of girls.
***
The teaching style in Class One was different from the rote learning in Class Nineteen. After one math class, Chi Han felt that many previously unclear problems suddenly became clear. Although he got a perfect score on the final math exam, there were still many things he hadn’t fully grasped.
The math teacher leading the class appeared to be highly experienced, effortlessly wielding various formulas and theorems, and presenting multiple variations for a single problem within minutes.
Chi Han had initially thought that it didn’t matter whether he joined Class One or not, but now he felt a bit embarrassed. From the current perspective, his knowledge seemed sufficient, but once he reached the third year of high school and needed to integrate all the knowledge from the entire high school curriculum, things might become unpredictable.
After class, Chi Han continued organizing his notes, while Rong Xu leaned on his wheelchair reading a book. Although they seemed to be minding their own business, there was an unspoken closeness that made it difficult for outsiders to intervene.
Geng Xue, folding exam papers, casually glanced back a few times and finally figured out what the problem was. …Why were the two desks squeezed so close together when they were obviously separate tables?!
Rong Xu released his grip on the wheelchair’s handles, and the tension around his lips eased. His restless heart finally calmed down.
When the teacher returned to normal teaching mode, it meant there would be questions. While Chi Han was joyfully passing notes to Rong Xu, a deadly gaze suddenly shot toward them.
“Chi Han, come and answer this question.”
The familiar feeling was too overwhelming. Chi Han felt his DNA reacting.
Instinctively, he “popped” up, only to realize he had no idea which question the teacher was referring to.
Chi Han: “…”
Oh no, he forgot that he couldn’t pass notes during class after getting used to the freedom and looseness of Class Nineteen.
Rong Xu lifted his hand and lightly tapped on Chi Han’s hand. Chi Han quickly lowered his head to read the large words written on the scrap paper—
The last question on the exam.
Chi Han resurrected instantly.
Although he couldn’t solve the problem during the exam, he later took some time to think about it and understood it.
The physics teacher noticed their little actions but had no choice. Chi Han’s train of thought was too clear and smooth. In the end, the teacher could only give them a warning glare before letting them sit down.
Well, good students always receive a bit more tolerance from teachers.
However, Rong Xu showed no mercy at all.
He effortlessly took the note that Chi Han hadn’t thrown, casually smoothed it out, and pressed it into the book.
The physics teacher: “…”
What to do? The chalk in his hand was slipping away.
As soon as Chi Han sat down, he received two pairs of starry-eyed looks.
Chi Han: “?”
Gui Gaojie secretly raised his chubby thumb and exclaimed, “Chi Han, you’re amazing! You can directly answer such a difficult question without even looking at the paper! I’m jealous!”
Geng Xue nodded frantically on the side.
Yes, yes!
Chi Han found these two kids quite cute, smiled, and winked, “It’s okay, I’ll analyze this question for you after class.”
“Hail to the boss!”
“Big brother is awesome!”
The two of them raised their hands and whispered, trying to create a scene as if they were adored by thousands.
Rong Xu’s face turned cold as if frozen for thousands of years, and he sternly said, “Class is in session, turn back!”
Geng Xue: “…”
Gui Gaojie: “…”
Big brother, do you realize that we are in class right now? Look at those notes on your desk, don’t you feel guilty?!
“Geng Xue!”
The physics teacher, unable to endure any longer, threw the chalk in his hand, hitting Geng Xue right on the forehead.
“Why are you looking back? Is the blackboard behind you? Stand up and answer the question!”
Geng Xue: “…”
Whimper, her life is so bitter.
Before the end of school, after enduring Rong Xu’s murderous gaze, the two quickly listened to Chi Han’s explanation of the problem and immediately grabbed their backpacks and rushed out of the classroom.
Chi Han: “Haha.”
“Why do you keep scaring them?” Chi Han stacked his books, smiling, “These two are quite amusing.”
Rong Xu lowered his gaze: “Hmph.”
Chi Han: “???”
Unable to figure out Rong Xu’s thoughts, Chi Han led the way for dinner first and planned to guess slowly after they were full.
***
A school like No.1 High School wouldn’t have a full summer vacation, so even after finishing the final exams, there wasn’t much reaction from everyone.
Because classes had to continue.
After a day of classes, Chi Han felt very satisfied. The teachers in this class were indeed capable, having nurtured many top students, and their teaching level was truly top-notch.
The two students in front of him were also lively and adorable, and most of the people in the classroom seemed friendly.
Although there were a few familiar faces in Class 1, such as Rong Rong and Jiang Yaoning.
But fortunately, they were somewhat self-aware. They didn’t provoke him today, and even if they encountered each other, they quickly turned away.
What made Chi Han feel most relieved was that Fang Jingluo didn’t show up all day, and he didn’t know if something happened at home or for some other reason. He heard that he left in quite a hurry.
Regardless of the reason, he hoped that every day in the future could be like today.
Hurry up and disappear, scumbag!
Chi Han took a moment to copy a class schedule and found that the scheduling at No.1 High School was quite humane. Although they had classes during the summer vacation, they still had weekends off, and there were no evening self-study sessions.
Tomorrow happened to be Saturday, a perfect day to take Rong Xu to get his hair done.
Unfortunately, plans could not keep up with changes.
A last-minute notice was issued before the afternoon class ended, stating that there would be an art festival at the school on Saturday afternoon, and each class had to present a program, with all students required to participate.
Chi Han: “…”
He was reminded of the fear he experienced in elementary school when he was pressed down and had a red dot applied to his forehead before being thrown onto the stage.
However, the class teacher specifically emphasized that no one was allowed to take leave, and everyone had to participate.
The class monitor immediately organized a brief voting session and listed different programs on the blackboard.
There were Latin dance, elegant dance, skits…
Chi Han’s eyelids twitched as he watched.
Could he apply to be in logistics?
After a chaotic discussion for an hour, the class monitor determined the performance for Class 1 in the art festival based on the vote count.
Hanfu fashion show.
Chi Han didn’t know who came up with this idea, but he certainly didn’t expect that so many people in the class had actually bought traditional Chinese clothing (Hanfu).
Initially, Chi Han wanted to find a way to be involved in logistics or something similar. However, he discovered that logistics also involved part-time hair styling and makeup.
Sorry, he wasn’t up for it.
In the end, unsurprisingly, Chi Han was drafted, and it could be said that all the good-looking girls and slender boys in the class were arranged to go on stage.
As for Rong Xu…
Well, no one dared to draft him.
Chi Han made a mouth gesture towards Rong Xu, who was sitting calmly below the podium:
“Save me!”
Rong Xu’s lips, with a faint color, slightly curved, surprisingly with no reaction at all. He made a gesture signaling “Hurry up” to Chi Han.
Chi Han: ?!
Well done!
Rong Xu sat in the corner, his eyes only accommodating one person—Chi Han.
He actually didn’t like the idea of them being so far apart, but he could tell that Chi Han enjoyed the current atmosphere.
Rong Xu disliked others getting too close, but he couldn’t stop Chi Han.
He liked to stay quiet, but Chi Han was different.
People couldn’t live alone; they needed to seek warmth and reliance from each other.
Rong Xu focused on watching the boy who seemed to be a star in the darkness to him, his expression gentle.
He only needed Chi Han.
***
Chi Han felt that rehearsing for the performance was even harder than taking a physics exam.
By the time the performance had a rudimentary shape, it was already three hours later.
“Everyone, remember to come to school early tomorrow morning. Deng Li, make sure you bring the clothes and makeup. We need to try the makeup in the morning.”
The class monitor arranged everything and let everyone go.
Chi Han moved his neck, packing up his things. He huffed and said, “Because you didn’t save me, we won’t be able to get your hair done tomorrow!”
He dropped his backpack on the desk, placed a hand on Rong Xu’s shoulder, and pinched his chin, threatening, “You have to come to school with me tomorrow morning, got it? Otherwise… Otherwise, you won’t get a good night’s sleep tomorrow night! I’ll call and harass you all night.”
Rong Xu readily accepted the threat and cooperatively promised to come.
Chi Han chuckled a couple of times, sparing him.
Actually, he didn’t want to bother Rong Xu to come on his day off, but he was a bit afraid of going on stage. Chi Han felt embarrassed as he recalled falling on stage in the first grade, having his pants stepped on, and crying loudly for an hour.
Ah, how embarrassing!
Chi Han agonizingly buried his head.
He thought that as long as he looked at Rong Xu in the audience tomorrow afternoon, he shouldn’t feel nervous, right?
***
At three in the morning, outside the window was pitch black, and his forehead was covered in cold sweat.
It hurts…
On his shins and between his knees, it felt like countless ants were crawling. He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but he could even feel the sharp thorns on their mouthparts, scraping across his bones and flesh.
Rong Xu’s arm, supporting himself on the edge of the bed, unconsciously trembled, and the fingertips grasping the bed frame turned white with exertion.
In a daze, he seemed to go back to the day his leg broke.
He remembered that day was very cold, raining with a gloomy sky.
His lower leg was in a cast because he fell down the stairs during a fight with his cousins.
Why was everyone wearing black clothes? And why were some people crying?
Ah, he remembered.
Today was his birthday, the day his mother died.
Suppressed memories surged like a tidal wave, and everyone’s faces turned grotesque and terrifying.
His father was pleading with Rong Guanyu not to kick him out of the Rong family. His mother lay in an ice coffin.
And he was sitting in a wheelchair.
Rong Xu felt his throat ache. Uncontrollably, two sobs escaped his mouth.
That was him crying back then.
A pale hand, however, gripped the wheelchair’s handle.
“You, this wild seed with no one to care for you, you should have died!”
As he was engulfed in immense grief, making it difficult for him to breathe, the venomous curse pierced straight into his heart.
Immediately after, the bitterly cold pool water completely submerged him.
Struggling to wake up from the nightmare, Rong Xu gasped for air like someone who had drowned.
He remembered, that after emerging from that icy water, he could never stand up again.
The room was pitch black, and he opened his eyes, instinctively reaching for the safety bracelet on his wrist.
However, he felt nothing.
Rong Xu’s eyes lost focus, and his expression instantly became anxious. He sat up, turned on the light, and uncovered the blanket, scanning every inch of the room with a sharp gaze. However, that faint blue color never appeared.
Rong Xu’s lips turned pale due to the pain. He continued to search, unwilling to give up, but the disappointment was evident.
Gone.
His eyes reflected a fragile sense of confusion.
The safety charm that Chi Han gave him was gone.
Rong Xu shook his hands, wanting to call Chi Han, but he hung up the call the moment the number was dialed.
Chi Han still had to perform on stage tomorrow, and if he was disturbed at three in the morning, he would have a headache all day.
He forced himself to calm down, but the increasingly intense pain made his vision blur.
In the end, Rong Xu couldn’t resist the biting pain, and he fainted from the agony.
The room fell silent once again.
