The physics teacher hadn’t arrived yet. Yu Ting pushed the freshly filled scratch paper over to Lu Jue’s side.
“Do this set of problems first.”
Lu Jue raised an eyebrow. “Not listening to the lesson?”
The physics teacher came jogging in. Yu Ting said no more. He picked up his pencil and wrote on the paper, “Answer them first.”
Lu Jue also picked up a pencil to write and pushed it back after a moment with five words—
【Alright, Teacher Yu.】
Yu Ting’s eyelid twitched. He took his eraser and rubbed the words away. This lesson was going over the test paper. As Yu Ting listened on one end, he compiled another set of problems on the scratch paper.
Once Lu Jue finished the physics problems, Yu Ting had finished writing a math set too. “Do this sheet.”
At noon dismissal, right after the teacher racing to the cafeteria left the classroom, they left right after. The students going home for lunch were a bit slower, but gradually they all filtered out too.
Soon, only Yu Ting and Lu Jue remained in the classroom.
“Go eat first?” Lu Jue asked.
Yu Ting said, “I’ll stay a bit longer.”
“The food Auntie cooked is going to get cold.”
“?” Yu Ting turned his head. “I didn’t say I was going to your place to eat.”
“Isn’t it more convenient to do tutoring at my place?” Lu Jue had been gathering up the scratch paper but put it back down. “If you think it’s a hassle, then I’ll just eat at the cafeteria from now on.”
“…”
Yu Ting didn’t think it was a hassle.
Going to Lu Jue’s place for tutoring was indeed more convenient—close to the school, so no time was wasted, and it was quiet.
In the evenings, he had his own study plan. The time he could help Lu Jue study was the noon break and the rest period before evening self-study.
But he wasn’t willing to let Lu Jue treat him to two meals for free.
Yu Ting proposed a solution. “I’ll split the food costs and pay you.”
Lu Jue: “Sure. I’ll also pay you a tutoring fee.”
“…”
Yu Ting fell silent for a few seconds, then put his pen into his pencil case. “Forget it. Let’s go.”
There was a fruit seller at the entrance of the residential area. Yu Ting still bought a bag of oranges.
Not many, four or five.
Lu Jue didn’t say anything.
When they got home, the lunch was still the usual balanced three dishes and a soup, with no expensive or exaggerated items.
No matter what, this made Yu Ting relax a little.
After eating, Yu Ting tutored Lu Jue on a few knowledge points. Lu Jue opened the oranges Yu Ting had bought, picked one, and peeled its orange-yellow skin. A fresh citrus scent burst into the air.
Lu Jue ate a segment. “Sweet.” He handed it to Yu Ting, then took another one for himself, saying naturally, “Take a nap. You can still sleep in the same room as last time.”
Yu Ting didn’t refuse again. He usually slept for half an hour during the noon break; it made afternoon classes more efficient.
Yu Ting entered the room and closed the door.
The bedding had been changed to new ones. A soft pink that looked like it had soaked up sunlight, dotted with small green four-petaled flowers. It was that kind of elegant, fresh green. The clashing colors together had a beauty that was exceptionally hypnotic.
The soft, fragrant bed was much better than the old desk. Yu Ting fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.
Three afternoon classes later, Yu Ting had compiled another set of chemistry problems for Lu Jue.
The housekeeper wasn’t there during dinner either. Lu Jue explained quickly, “She’ll clean up tomorrow morning.”
Yu Ting still brought the dishes to the sink. The dining table was wide, suitable for going over problems.
Yu Ting was extremely patient when explaining problems. Lu Jue had seen this before, watching him help others.
He was also easy to understand; he would adjust his logic to guide another person’s thinking.
“Teacher Yu.”
After listening for a while, Lu Jue went to the kitchen and brought back two salted ice pops. “Let’s take a break. I’m so hot I feel dizzy.”
Tonight was abnormally hot and stuffy. The air conditioning inside was blasting at full power. Yu Ting wasn’t hot, but eating a salted ice pop was still very pleasant.
Yu Ting bit into the ice pop. Just then, the doorbell rang, and someone outside shouted.
“International express delivery!”
Lu Jue came back carrying a cardboard box that looked small but was very heavy.
He put it on the coffee table and found a box cutter. “I’ll open these books.”
Yu Ting’s gaze looked over.
Soon, Lu Jue had unpacked a pile of books stacked on the table.
All were foreign-language originals.
Yu Ting only understood English, yet every book cover made it hard for him to look away.
There was a shipbuilder from a documentary, and various different ships—books about shipbuilding.
“…What is all this?” Lu Jue suddenly said.
“You didn’t buy them?” Yu Ting asked.
“Would I buy these kinds of books?” Lu Jue countered, the corner of his eye lifting. “A gift sent by an elder.”
He casually stuffed them into a drawer.
“…”
Yu Ting’s eyes hadn’t left the drawer. After a few seconds, he still opened his mouth. “Can I borrow them to read?”
Lu Jue looked at him. “The books?”
“Yes.”
Lu Jue pulled open the drawer. “Which one?”
“…All of them.” Yu Ting paused for a second. “I won’t take them away, just read them when I’m here.”
Lu Jue lowered his head to take the books out, his expression unreadable. “Whatever you want.”
~
Half a month passed in a flash. On the weekend, Yu Ting went to the flower nursery to help.
The nursery was finally tidied up and would reopen the next day. The rebuilt Sunny Flower Shed had been slightly expanded. Zhao Rufei loved it so much she couldn’t get enough; in a short while, she had gone inside several times.
“Having a home, the flowers and plants will have an easier time through winter too.” Zhao Rufei was beaming with joy.
Zhang Minhua was off today and had also come to help, washing flowerpots while chatting and working alongside Zhao Rufei.
Yu Ting was shifting flowers nearby when his phone suddenly rang. He wiped his hand on his apron and took out his phone.
The incoming call was from Yang Shuyun.
Yu Ting told Zhao Rufei and went outside the flower shed to take the call.
Zhang Minhua watched Yu Ting’s figure walk into the distance, then quickly lowered her voice and asked Zhao Rufei, “A few days ago, your breast was hurting again. What did the hospital say when you went?”
Zhao Rufei: “Haven’t gone yet. It’s been fine for a few days now.” She gestured, “It was probably just my bra being too tight. I bought a style of tank-top bra without underwire, super comfortable to wear. You want one? I bought several.”
Zhang Minhua was tempted. “Then give me one later to try. If it’s good, I’ll buy a few too. Wearing a regular bra in summer is such torture; it causes so many heat rashes.”
Still worried, she added another line. “You really should find a time to go to the hospital for a check-up, just for peace of mind, you know?”
Zhao Rufei nodded but didn’t take it to heart.
Outside the flower shed, the afternoon sun baked the ground until it was scalding hot. Yu Ting hung up the phone, stood still for a moment, then went to the flower field and transplanted a potted plant, carrying it back into the shed.
Zhang Minhua and Zhao Rufei were chatting about household trivialities. The words that were on the tip of his tongue, Yu Ting swallowed back down.
They were busy until after six before the mother and son locked up and headed home.
“Mom.” Yu Ting was riding his bike with Zhao Rufei on the back. “The competition results are out.”
Zhao Rufei immediately tensed up, grabbing Yu Ting’s T-shirt tightly.
She didn’t dare urge him, just nervously waited for the answer.
The evening sea breeze had become cool, blowing in from the sea, gently lifting the bangs off Yu Ting’s forehead, revealing his smooth, full brow.
Even this usually calm and reserved youth couldn’t keep the corner of his mouth down this time.
“I got first in the province.”
…
The news that Yu Ting had gotten first in the province for the Physics League was announced by Zheng Derong to the entire school with a joyful expression on Monday morning, right after the flag-raising ceremony.
This wasn’t even enough. During the noon break broadcast, Zheng Derong notified the whole school once more.
Ten years ago, No. 2 High School still had students who placed. Ten years later, this was first in the province! Number one in the entire province!
If he managed to win gold, silver, or bronze at the finals, he’d get a direct recommendation to the top-ranked university’s top major in the country.
Yang Shuyun was even more radiant with joy. She called Yu Ting to go take a ID photo, needing a new picture to hang on the school’s Honor Roll.
