MM | Chapter 56

Impact

“What’s wrong with Sheng Wang?” He Jin asked.

The experiment video had just finished playing, and the students on both sides of the classroom rolled up the blackout curtains with a rustle. Sheng Wang lay on the desk, coughing while raising his hand high to signal that he was fine.

“Are you really okay?” Among the teachers in Class A, He Jin was the most gentle and the most concerned, possibly because her own child was still young.

Sheng Wang gave a thumbs-up with his raised hand, indicating he was fine.

“Did you choke on water?” He Jin asked again.

“…”

Sheng Wang was a bit overwhelmed. Unfortunately, he was coughing so hard that his neck and face were flushed red, and he couldn’t speak. After hesitating for two seconds, he raised a Wang Zai milk.

He Jin said, “Oh, aren’t you just fighting with yourself?”

The whole class burst into laughter.

Sheng Wang slammed the little red can back onto the desk, thinking, “Damn, a bunch of animals, what’s so funny!”

After He Jin finished joking, she began the lecture. Some students who were dozing off were now wide awake and started taking notes. Young Master Sheng sacrificed himself for the greater good, but it was really embarrassing.

He had stopped coughing, but the flush from choking hadn’t faded, so he simply stayed down, sending a WeChat message with one hand hidden under the desk.

Sticker: You bought this stuff, and you dare to laugh???

Jiang Tian: Didn’t laugh.

Sticker: Liar, I heard you.

Jiang Tian: …

Jiang Tian: Then your hearing is pretty good.

Sheng Wang paused in his reply. He suddenly realized that Jiang Tian had indeed laughed very softly, almost indistinguishable among Gao Tianyang’s loud group, but he heard it.

He didn’t hear anyone else, just Jiang Tian’s laugh, as if he cared about it more.

Sheng Wang pursed his lips and first replied with a “heh.” After a moment, the playful expression on his face faded. He sent a cheeky shrug emoji, saying: You’re the closest to me.

Anyway, in a few words, he managed to steer the conversation away from the topic of that day at Wutongwai. Jiang Tian, for once, was led astray and seemed to have forgotten about it since.

He didn’t know if Jiang Tian was aware of the real relationship between Zhao Xi and Lin Beiting… judging from the reaction at the gathering, he probably wasn’t.

Regardless, it was Zhao Xi and Lin Beiting’s private matter. The scene in the deep alley of Wutongwai was almost secretive. Even if Sheng Wang was surprised, shocked, or affected, he wouldn’t speak of what he accidentally witnessed.

It happened in a place where no one passed by, just an unknown story, with only the protagonists having the right to decide if it should be shared.

Sheng Wang wasn’t one to meddle in others’ affairs, nor did he like judging someone based on personal matters unrelated to right or wrong. He still thought Zhao Xi and Lin Beiting were cool, but he had been avoiding them lately—having his worldview shaken once had already led to several strange dreams. A second shock might make it impossible for him to sleep.

But there’s a saying, “What you fear comes true,” and a phenomenon called the “reticular activating system.” People he rarely saw before seemed to be everywhere these days.

When Sheng Wang went to Xi Le to buy water, he heard Boss Zhao gesturing to Mute, saying, “I left my phone on the bedside table. Zhao Xi will bring it over later.”

When he went to Old Man Ding’s to eat, he ran into Zhao Xi and Lin Beiting talking with friends at the street corner outside the west gate.

During evening self-study, when Sister Jing called him to the office to help grade papers, Zhao Xi and Lin Beiting were at the next table discussing the progress of competition classes with He Jin.

Even after P.E. class, when returning basketballs to the equipment room, he ran into those two walking with Big Mouth Xu on Road No. 3, seemingly heading to a dinner together.

If he were alone, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but 9 out of 10 times, Jiang Tian was beside him, and they inevitably had to stop and chat with those two.

Not only that, but Sheng Wang frequently heard people saying he and Jiang Tian were very similar to those two. It wasn’t like this before.

If it were Gao Tianyang or Song Sirui, Sheng Wang could find an excuse to give them a beating. But it was He Jin, Yang Jing, and other teachers who were involved, so he couldn’t exactly hit them.

The one who said it the most was Big Mouth Xu from the Political and Educational Office.

Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian had always been unruly, and Big Mouth Xu had suffered because of it. So he repeatedly said to Zhao Xi, “These two kids are so arrogant. Every time I see them, I think of you guys. My head has been hurting for over ten years.”

Zhao Xi, as usual, joked with everyone: “Old Lin used to be from No. 1 High School. Don’t take credit for yourself. Even the director of the Political and Educational Office at No. 1 High School didn’t say anything. And if your head has been hurting for over ten years, you should see a doctor.”

Big Mouth Xu huffed, “Old Pan from No. 1 High School’s Political and Educational Office and I are very close. He told me over ten years ago, next time Lin Beiting causes trouble at your Affiliated High School, you must catch him and give him a good scolding. I can’t catch him, what can I do?”

Zhao Xi nudged Lin Beiting.

Lin Beiting explained, “I was young and energetic, and my running speed was unexpectedly fast.”

Zhao Xi almost died laughing, and Big Mouth Xu was left speechless, so he turned to scold Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian: “See? You two are just like these two troublemakers back then.”

As if.

Sheng Wang thought, you really know how to make comparisons.

When Big Mouth Xu said “replica,” Sheng Wang glanced at Jiang Tian. The other seemed to sense his gaze and looked back.

Jiang Tian’s lips moved slightly, but he didn’t say anything, letting Big Mouth Xu nag for a while before finally replying, “Got it, teacher. We’ll run slower next time.”

Big Mouth Xu glared, almost wanting to smack him. Sheng Wang quickly pulled Jiang Tian away.

From this, he confirmed one thing—Jiang Tian probably didn’t know the real relationship between Zhao Xi and Lin Beiting.

*

The midterm exam was a major test. Several established key schools in the city liked to use such exams to simulate drills. This time, aside from synchronizing the papers and grading, they also planned to simulate random exam room assignments to let students get used to taking exams outside their own school.

The Affiliated High School had terrible luck and drew the farthest Nan High School. Mingli Building also had to provide exam rooms for Jinhu students. The day before the exam, the Affiliated High School canceled evening self-study to set up the exam rooms.

As soon as the afternoon class ended, the day students ran off excitedly. Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian went to Old Man Ding’s for dinner, planning to return to the dorm to shower and rest, but they ran into a teacher from the management office on Road No. 3, who called Jiang Tian away.

Although the midterm exam was looming, the fact that there was no evening self-study was enough to send some students into a frenzy. The dormitory building was noisy, with people chatting, chasing, carrying hot water bottles, or sneaking cigarettes in corners—every kind of person was there.

When Sheng Wang passed by Room 605, he smelled the smoke wafting from the small bathroom window. He squinted and coughed lightly, quickly walking to his dorm room.

To his surprise, his dorm was very quiet, and there was no light.

Almost 8 o’clock, and no one was back yet?

Puzzled, Sheng Wang opened the door and saw Shi Yu holding a laptop, his face illuminated by the screen’s eerie glow.

“What are you doing?” Sheng Wang closed the dorm door and reached to turn on the light.

Shi Yu quickly said, “Don’t turn it on, wait a bit. Are you in a hurry to use it?”

“Not really.” Sheng Wang replied.

The hallway had lights, and through the glass above the door, the dorm wasn’t completely dark. He tossed his backpack on the desk and asked, “Where’s Binzi?”

“He thought the dorm building was too noisy and went to the lecture hall to study,” Shi Yu said.

Sheng Wang thought that made sense. Those serious about studying would naturally head to the lecture hall. The ones staying in the dorm building weren’t planning to fight with their books tonight, no wonder it was so noisy.

Shi Yu’s computer screen flickered, but there was no sound. Sheng Wang leaned over and saw a ghost with a blurred face, hanging upside down and moving down the hallway.

“Horror movie?” Sheng Wang tapped the keyboard, “Why don’t you have the sound on? I think I’ve seen this one. Want spoilers?”

“Don’t—” Shi Yu didn’t stop him in time, and Sheng Wang turned on the sound.

The ghost’s head tapped on the ground like a lone basketball bouncing on a court at dusk, with overlapping echoes. The face suddenly filled the screen.

Shi Yu let out a scream and immediately covered his eyes.

Sheng Wang was unfazed by the ghost, but Shi Yu’s reaction startled him: “What are you doing?”

“Quick, turn off the sound, quick—”

“Alright, alright.” Sheng Wang laughed and muted it, “It’s off, want the light on?”

“No need!”

Shi Yu cautiously uncovered his eyes, exhaling deeply, “Don’t turn on the light, I’m building courage.”

Sheng Wang: “…Doesn’t look like it.”

“I’m taking it step by step.” His skin was too dark to show any expression in the dim light, but his voice was weak.

“Then take your time.” Sheng Wang grabbed his school ID and said, “I’m going to shower.”

“Hey, Sheng-ge!” Shi Yu called again.

Sheng Wang said, “Don’t worry, I won’t turn on the light.”

“No, that’s not what I meant.” Shi Yu, unusually fawning, grabbed him, “Wait a sec, you’re really not scared? You watched that ghost smile and still dare to shower in the dark?”

“Why not?” Sheng Wang replied.

Shi Yu thought, no way, you’re so brave, but last time when there was a thief, you shared a bed with Tian-ge? Could it be Tian-ge who’s scared? He pondered for a few seconds, then shook his head and got to the point: “If you’re not scared, why not keep me company for a few more minutes? It’s almost over.”

Sheng Wang didn’t have much to do, so he nodded, “Sure, let’s watch.”

With him there, Shi Yu reluctantly turned the volume up two notches, enduring the last fifteen minutes. He clung to Sheng Wang’s arm the whole time, his palm sweaty.

Sheng Wang didn’t like the clammy feeling and pulled his arm away while reaching for a drink bottle. Shi Yu rubbed his hands on his pants and didn’t grab again.

He leaned against the bed rail for a few seconds, feeling the movie’s lingering effect growing scarier the more he thought about it.

“No, I need to watch something else to cover that impression.” Shi Yu randomly clicked through folders.

Sheng Wang joked beside him, “With how scared you are, nothing less shocking will do, just accept it.”

“Shocking, shocking…” Shi Yu muttered, then suddenly smirked, “If you say that, I do have something.”

Sheng Wang looked at him questioningly.

He said, “Come on, Sheng-ge, since you watched the horror movie with me, I’ll show you something good. Big Qian sent it to me a few days ago.”

Sheng Wang wasn’t familiar with everyone in Class B, and he was trying to remember who Big Qian was when Shi Yu found the “good stuff” and mysteriously hit play.

The video resumed from where it was last watched.

Sheng Wang glanced up and saw two figures entangled in a dim, swaying light, kissing, one with pants half-down, the other kneeling between the spread legs.

I… damn.

Sheng Wang froze for two seconds, as if stung by a wild bee, and looked away. The long-forgotten dreams surged back. There seemed to be footsteps in the hallway, though he didn’t really hear them. His hand acted before his brain, snapping Shi Yu’s laptop shut.

“What the hell, man?” Shi Yu was stunned by his lightning speed, then found Sheng Wang’s reaction baffling. If you don’t want to watch, just walk away, why close the laptop? Besides, watching a bit is normal, no need to be so uptight.

Sheng Wang had already stood up from his bed. Shi Yu was about to reopen the laptop and complain when he heard the sound of keys in the lock. The next second, the door opened, and Jiang Tian’s tall figure stood in the doorway, backlit.

Shi Yu retracted his hand from the laptop, thinking, thank goodness Sheng Wang reacted quickly. As a roommate, he didn’t dare watch such things under Jiang Tian’s nose, probably because the guy was too cold.

He thought, no wonder Sheng Wang was quick to close the laptop; he knew Jiang Tian was coming back. But how did he know?

Jiang Tian, who entered, was unaware of his roommate’s wild thoughts. He habitually turned on the main light and saw Sheng Wang standing by the long table.

Maybe the sudden light dazzled him, but for a moment, Sheng Wang’s face and neck appeared very pale, yet gave an impression of being flushed.

His lips were slightly parted, and his expression as he looked at the door was slightly surprised.

Jiang Tian paused in his step, meeting his gaze from a few steps away.

A few seconds later, Sheng Wang suddenly looked away. His Adam’s apple moved slightly, then he reached for the clean clothes draped over the bed rail and said, “I’m going to shower.”