Chapter 15
The cicadas chirped incessantly in the trees, the sun beat down on the earth, and the humid, muggy air was stifling. June’s rainy season arrived with the summer heat.
The old ceiling fan turned slowly, creaking.
Textbooks and exercise books were piled high on the desk, almost burying him in a sea of books.
Since the rainy season began in Haicheng, Yan Weiqiu hadn’t been feeling well. He felt constantly tired, perhaps because he had been studying too hard recently.
He slept soundly until morning, not even waking up to his alarm.
Even with the window wide open, he still felt stuffy.
The air was filled with all sorts of smells: the plastic smell of erasers, the ink smell of test papers, and even a mixture of body odors.
When had he become so sensitive?
“Class monitor.” The math class representative came to him with a test paper, seeking help.
As she approached, a faint jasmine fragrance lingered around him.
“I’ve calculated this problem several times, but I still can’t get it right.” The math class representative looked distressed, humbly asking for his guidance.
Perhaps because she was so close, the faint scent became stronger, more distinct.
Yan Weiqiu frowned slightly. He didn’t like the smell of perfume and could only endure the discomfort as he explained the problem-solving process twice.
“Thank you, class monitor! I understand now!”
Yan Weiqiu nodded. After she left, he discreetly waved his hand to dispel the lingering perfume scent.
June’s weather was always unpredictable.
In the afternoon, the sky was clear and sunny, but by the time school ended, it had become overcast.
Not long after Yan Weiqiu got on his bike, it started to drizzle.
The rain grew heavier and heavier.
By the time he and Jiang Yuebai got home, they were drenched.
They looked at each other and smiled wryly.
Yan Weiqiu: “We’re soaked. Let’s go home and take a shower.”
“Mm, I’ll come find you after dinner.” Jiang Yuebai nodded, brushed his wet hair from his forehead, and ran back into the rain.
The downpour quickly swallowed his figure.
After he was completely out of sight, Yan Weiqiu wrung the water out of his clothes and hurried home.
Fang Xiu looked at his sorry state and said heartfeltly, “Go take a hot shower. I made you some ginger tea. Drink it when you come out, and I’ll take a bowl over to Xiaobai later.”
Yan Weiqiu rushed into the bathroom, calling back, “It’s pouring outside. Don’t bother. Xiaobai is coming over to study with me later.”
“Okay, I understand.”
The heavy rain continued for a long time, finally letting up a bit around nine o’clock.
Yan Weiqiu: It’s nine o’clock, are you still coming?
Jiang Yuebai: It’s only nine o’clock, of course I’m coming.
Yan Weiqiu: Such a sucker.jpg
A few minutes later, footsteps could be heard from the stairwell. Jiang Yuebai called out “Auntie Xiu” and was about to head to Yan Weiqiu’s room.
Fang Xiu stopped him and brought a bowl of ginger tea from the kitchen, smiling. “Xiaobai, come and have some ginger tea. I saved some for you.”
Jiang Yuebai stopped, saying stiffly, “N-no need, right?”
“Of course you need it. You were caught in such heavy rain; you need to dispel the chill. Xiaoqiu also drank a big bowl.” Fang Xiu made him sit down and watched him finish the entire bowl of ginger tea before letting him go.
Jiang Yuebai rinsed his mouth several times in the bathroom until the taste of ginger was gone, then knocked on Yan Weiqiu’s door.
Knock, knock—
There was no response, so Jiang Yuebai opened the door.
The air was cool after the rain, and Yan Weiqiu had the window open, letting the breeze in.
He was wearing loose shorts, lying on his stomach on the bed, looking at his tablet, wearing headphones and listening to music, his body swaying gently to the rhythm, his feet dangling.
His long legs were dazzlingly white, his slender ankles and pink toes aesthetically pleasing.
Jiang Yuebai’s grip on the doorknob tightened, his breathing becoming rapid.
Perhaps sensing his presence, Yan Weiqiu turned around and saw him standing frozen at the door.
Yan Weiqiu took off his headphones and looked at him quizzically. “Why are you just standing there? Come in.”
“Oh.” Jiang Yuebai practically stumbled over to him and sat down on the edge of the bed.
Yan Weiqiu chuckled. “What’s wrong? You seem strange.”
Seeing Jiang Yuebai’s slightly flushed face, Yan Weiqiu became serious. He reached out and touched his forehead, murmuring, “Don’t tell me you got a fever from the rain?”
Jiang Yuebai felt very hot, his whole body burning.
His rut wasn’t due for more than half a month.
“You do feel a little hot. Do you have a fever?” Yan Weiqiu frowned slightly, one hand resting on Jiang Yuebai’s thigh, the other gently touching his face.
Jiang Yuebai only noticed that Yan Weiqiu was only a handspan away from him. He just needed to reach out and he could pull him into his arms.
The scent of Yan Weiqiu’s shower gel filled his nostrils, sweet and alluring, captivating him.
Yan Weiqiu looked at him with concern. “Should I get you some fever medicine?”
“No need.” Jiang Yuebai coughed lightly and gave a vague explanation. “Alphas have a higher body temperature. I’m fine. I just drank a big bowl of ginger tea and I’m sweating.”
Yan Weiqiu figured he wasn’t lying. His mother used a ridiculous amount of ginger when making ginger tea, and after drinking it, one would definitely feel warm all over.
The computer desk in his room wasn’t big, usually enough for him alone, but with Jiang Yuebai’s tall and large frame sitting beside him, it felt a little cramped.
They had to pull their chairs closer, sitting close together.
Yan Weiqiu urged him to open his exercise book, muttering, “Let me see which problems you got wrong. I clearly remember your math score being similar to mine on the last mock exam.”
Jiang Yuebai randomly opened to a wrong answer, propped his chin on his hand, and listened to him explain the problem.
“You made a mistake starting from this step.”
“Here…”
At some point, it had started drizzling again, the rain pattering against the windowsill. The humid air, carrying a cool night breeze, blew in through the open window.
It dispersed the sweet scent lingering in the room and brought Jiang Yuebai back to his senses.
He rested his chin on his hand. From this angle, he could see the top of Yan Weiqiu’s fluffy head, his jade-like ears hidden beneath his hair, his slender neck, the smooth skin of his nape, and the expanse of his fair, delicate skin.
If he took a bite, would it leave a mark?
“What about this problem? Why did you choose A?”
“This is a basic question. How could you even get this wrong?”
“Didn’t your teacher scold you?”
Jiang Yuebai was still staring at the back of his neck, lost in thought.
Yan Weiqiu, receiving no response, looked at him quizzically.
“Jiang Yuebai!”
“Hello?!”
“What are you thinking about?”
“Huh?” Jiang Yuebai gradually came back to his senses, looking at the multiple-choice question Yan Weiqiu was pointing at. He stammered, “I… I just filled it in randomly.”
Yan Weiqiu glared at him and scolded, “You were spacing out?”
Jiang Yuebai nodded stiffly.
Yan Weiqiu tapped his head with his pen and snorted. “If you don’t get into A University, I’ll kill you, got it?”
Jiang Yuebai said seriously, “We’ll definitely get into the same university.”
Yan Weiqiu muttered softly, “You’re not taking this seriously at all.”
“I was wrong.” Jiang Yuebai couldn’t help but pat his head, chuckling softly. “Teacher Yan, please continue.”
Yan Weiqiu: “…”
Teacher Yan?
Bullshit.
Teased like this, Yan Weiqiu couldn’t help but blush, exhaling softly.
Yan Weiqiu explained the practice problems to Jiang Yuebai again.
“Do you understand now?”
They were getting closer and closer, Yan Weiqiu practically half-leaning against Jiang Yuebai.
“I understand.” Jiang Yuebai smiled, suppressing the emotions swirling in his eyes.
“Good thing you’re not that dumb.” Yan Weiqiu breathed a sigh of relief. He was about to stretch when he realized how close they were. He discreetly moved his chair back a little, trying to create some distance, but Jiang Yuebai followed, moving his chair even closer.
Yan Weiqiu said helplessly, “It’s almost eleven o’clock now. Shouldn’t you go back?”
Seeing Yan Weiqiu’s unconcealed exhaustion, Jiang Yuebai nodded. “Get some rest. I’ll pick you up tomorrow.”
Yan Weiqiu: “Okay.”
The door opened, and the living room light was still on.
Fang Xiu heard the door open and brought two bowls of chicken noodle soup from the kitchen.
“Are you done with your homework?”
Yan Weiqiu peeked out from behind Jiang Yuebai and responded, “Mm.”
Fang Xiu: “Come and eat. You must be hungry.”
The aroma of chicken soup filled the living room, and Yan Weiqiu suddenly felt his stomach rumble.
Fang Xiu sat and watched Yan Weiqiu and Jiang Yuebai eat their noodles with gusto, feeling a sense of contentment.
“There are only a few days left until the college entrance exams. Are you confident?”
Yan Weiqiu and Jiang Yuebai nodded simultaneously.
Fang Xiu smiled and said, “Auntie Jiang and I have prepared a big gift for you.”
Yan Weiqiu looked up at her curiously. “What gift?”
Fang Xiu: “You’ll find out then. It’s a secret for now.”
Yan Weiqiu: “…”
Then she might as well not have said anything.
Jiang Yuebai didn’t say anything. He quickly finished his noodles, cleared the table, and walked towards the door, saying, “Auntie Xiu, I’ll be going then.”
“It’s pouring outside. Stay the night.” Fang Xiu glanced at the rain outside and frowned slightly.
Yan Weiqiu, who was drinking his soup, choked at these words and started coughing.
Jiang Yuebai quickly brought him a glass of warm water.
“Don’t worry, Auntie Xiu, I brought an umbrella.” Jiang Yuebai gently patted Yan Weiqiu’s back, looking at him with concern.
Fang Xiu gave them a meaningful look and smiled. “When you were little, Xiaoqiu said he wanted to be Xiaobai’s bride. Why are you so shy now that you’re older?”
Yan Weiqiu’s eyes widened in surprise.
Jiang Yuebai’s hand, which was patting his back, froze slightly.
“Aren’t you two dating?”
“Your mothers don’t object, so you don’t have to worry.”
