MM | Chapter 77

Possessed

When Sheng Wang entered the classroom, the math teacher of Class B was just distributing the lunchtime practice sheets at the podium. He deliberately entered through the back door, but it was no use. The whole class turned to look at him with envy as they passed the sheets.

The students’ envy was pure—if you have a legitimate reason to skip class, you’re the happiest person in the world. Even a class committee member being called to a meeting for one period would get a “so lucky” comment, let alone Sheng Wang, who had been gone for half a month.

“Stop staring, I don’t have the answer key written on my face,” Sheng Wang joked as he sat down, feeling like he had accidentally walked the red carpet.

The class burst into laughter, and the math teacher teased him from the podium, “Sheng Wang seems to be in a good mood. Looks like the training camp went well.”

Someone quickly chimed in, “Not attending class is quite rejuvenating.”

The class laughed again before finally settling down to work on their problems.

As soon as Sheng Wang started, he realized he was in trouble. The half-month training had left a bit of an aftereffect—his first reaction to math problems wasn’t to draw diagrams, set up equations, or calculate, but to translate the questions into English.

Usually, he had more than enough time for these half-hour practice sheets, but today, thanks to the damned aftereffects, he was a bit pressed. He barely finished the last sentence when the teacher called for the papers.

“Seems like you’re a bit rusty, huh, Sheng Wang?” The math teacher raised an eyebrow at him from a few desks away. “Your speed is noticeably slower than before.”

Sheng Wang had no retort this time and obediently accepted the criticism.

“Since you’re done with English, you should focus more on other subjects. Maybe try a couple of sequence problems for fun.”

The whole class let out a collective “Whoa.”

The math teacher glared at them, then half-jokingly, half-seriously reminded, “You’ve been away from these for half a month, while the others haven’t relaxed at all. The weekly test is coming up soon, so make sure to catch up.”

At the mention of exams, the class groaned. Sheng Wang, however, felt the opposite. He was eager for the exams to come. Not out of arrogance, but because he hadn’t taken any formal exams since midterms. He was anxious to get into the top 45 to reassure Old He and Sister Jing from Class A.

As soon as the teacher left, the groaning students sprang back to life. He Shu was the first to sneak over from the front row, and Shi Yu made room for her on the bench.

“Hey, Sheng Wang, was the training camp fun?” As someone who also participated in the English preliminaries, He Shu’s envy was much stronger than the others.

“It was okay. The camp was so-so, but the people were interesting,” Sheng Wang replied.

He Shu was amused. “The people who can go are all big shots. Were there really interesting people?”

“Yeah, Jiang Tian,” Sheng Wang said casually while typing on his phone.

He Shu: “…”

Sheng Wang glanced at her and Shi Yu, his fingers flying over the keyboard.

Store Anniversary: Jiang Tian, handsome in appearance, clear in voice, his name has mystical powers, can stop a child’s night crying.

Someone: …

Someone: What got into you?

Store Anniversary: Got hit by a couple.

Someone: ?

Store Anniversary: Shi Yu and He Shu are ignoring the empty chairs and squeezing onto one.

Store Anniversary: He Shu, do you know?

Store Anniversary: Never mind, you probably don’t remember. Anyway, Shi Yu’s girlfriend.

Store Anniversary: Out of over forty seats in the class, they choose to show off in front of me.

Store Anniversary: Is having a partner that great?

Store Anniversary: Well, I’m great too.

In Class A, most people were putting away their papers and pens to nap, except for a few who were up to something. Gao Tianyang was tossing notes with the person in front, but his aim was off, and they kept landing on Pepper’s desk. He had to plead with her to pass them forward.

Pepper rolled her eyes as she helped, and by the fifth round, Gao Tianyang turned to look back, catching Jiang Tian’s expression.

“Tian-ge,” Gao Tianyang whispered, “you were just smiling, right? I didn’t see wrong, did I?”

Jiang Tian looked up from under the desk. “You saw wrong.”

“I don’t care, I saw it,” Gao Tianyang insisted. “Your little brother said that in times like these, you just have to argue and be unreasonable.”

Jiang Tian didn’t quite get it. “My little brother?”

“Sheng-ge.”

“…”

Jiang Tian glanced at his phone under the desk, where a certain little brother was still talking about how great it was to have a partner.

Before he could reply, Gao Tianyang asked, “Since you were smiling, your mood should be okay, right?”

“Don’t talk about mood.” Jiang Tian turned off the screen, looking knowingly at him. “What did you get me into this time?”

“This time it’s not my fault! I even spoke up for you, but without you here, the intimidation just wasn’t the same.”

Gao Tianyang turned and waved to two people in the front row, signaling them to hurry over. In the next second, Song Sirui, the entertainment committee member, and class monitor Li Yu rolled over together.

Seeing Li Yu and the entertainment committee member, Jiang Tian suddenly understood. He could tell Gao Tianyang and his close friends to “get lost,” but it wasn’t as easy with two girls, especially since the class monitor was prone to tears.

Gao Tianyang nudged Li Yu, who nudged the entertainment committee member, who reluctantly spoke up, “It’s like this, Jiang Tian. At the end of the month, there’s another school cultural and arts festival. Since the third years don’t participate, this is our last one. Old He’s idea is not to take up too much study time but also not to be too perfunctory.”

“Originally, a class chorus would be the fairest and easiest. After all, no one can escape it. Pick an easy song, practice a few times, and that’s it. But—”

Gao Tianyang pointed downstairs. “The spots were snatched by Class B and Class 7.”

The entertainment committee member explained, “The entertainment committee members of those two classes submitted the registration forms right after the meeting without even discussing it with their classmates. A grade can only have two choruses, and since I was a bit democratic, the spots were gone.”

Jiang Tian frowned. “So?”

“So we can only do small programs. You know the rule, if a single program has two or fewer people, the class has to produce two programs. Otherwise, the whole grade would just be solos.” Gao Tianyang pointed at himself and Song Sirui. “The current plan is for me and Old Song to do a comedy sketch, that’s one group. You and Li Yu will do a duet—”

Jiang Tian: “???”

“Oops—wrong, sorry.” Gao Tianyang corrected himself. “You’ll play guitar, and Li Yu will sing.”

Jiang Tian was puzzled. “Who said I can play guitar?”

Li Yu said nervously, “I don’t really sing well either.”

Jiang Tian: “…”

Gao Tianyang explained, “Old Song and I were born to do comedy. Li Yu, the class monitor, is sacrificing herself for the greater good. But Li Yu gets nervous easily, and if she sings solo, she might end up crying. So…”

Jiang Tian: “I can’t play.”

“No worries, don’t you know the arts festival? As long as you look good, it’s fine. Who’s really there to appreciate the guitar?” Gao Tianyang said, “Tian-ge, I’m not flattering you, but with your looks, you could hold a broom on stage and get applause.”

“…” Jiang Tian looked at him with an expression of disbelief. “So this was your lousy idea?”

Gao Tianyang shrank back. “I wouldn’t dare.”

Li Yu said, “Actually, it was Teacher He.”

Jiang Tian looked blank for a moment before saying, “I’ll talk to her after class.”

“Old He seems to be going out for a lecture this afternoon.”

“Then I’ll find her after school,” Jiang Tian said.

However, when school ended, he didn’t manage to catch He Jin, but someone else caught him. The person blocking him was named Sheng Wang, the nemesis he had brought upon himself.

“I heard you’re performing too?” Sheng Wang sat on the low window ledge at the stairwell corner, looking up at Jiang Tian descending the stairs.

Jiang Tian turned to glare at Gao Tianyang. “You told him?”

Gao Tianyang had just stepped down a stair but quickly retreated back into the classroom. “I didn’t say it voluntarily, Sheng-ge just happened to ask.”

Jiang Tian continued down the stairs, walking toward Sheng Wang. “I’m not participating.”

“Don’t,” Sheng Wang said, standing up with his backpack. “I was just feeling relieved.”

“Relieved about what?”

“Our class is doing a chorus. They decided my spot was front and center while I was away. A bunch of jerks waited until this afternoon to tell me, ruining my mood for the last period. I only felt better when Old Gao said you were performing too.”

“I’m not,” Jiang Tian said. “I can’t play.”

“Guitar?” Sheng Wang encouraged, “Learning a simple song quickly isn’t hard. Are you afraid of that, top student?”

The top student was unmoved. “Not learning.”

“Give it a try.”

“No.”

“Are you really going to let me embarrass myself alone?”

Jiang Tian adjusted his backpack strap and said very straightforwardly, “Yes.”

Sheng Wang squinted his eyes, then hooked an arm around Jiang Tian’s neck, forcing him to bend down. “Say that again?”

Jiang Tian’s Adam’s apple moved against Sheng Wang’s arm, and only Sheng Wang knew he was laughing quietly.

Gao Tianyang and Song Sirui peeked out of the classroom, cheering Sheng Wang on from a distance, ready to retreat at any moment.

Sheng Wang glanced at them, then turned Jiang Tian around. Behind them, students were streaming toward the cafeteria. He lowered his voice and said to Jiang Tian, “Let me tell you a secret. Your secret admirer boyfriend just happens to play guitar. He’s eager to teach you. One-on-one, guaranteed success, no charge. So, are you in or not?”

…

So that evening, Gao Tianyang told Li Yu and the entertainment committee member some good news: “Tian-ge agreed.”

“Really?” The two girls could hardly believe it.

“Sheng-ge mentioned it during dinner, and Tian-ge didn’t deny it,” Gao Tianyang said. “It’s legit.”

“Why? What made him suddenly agree?”

“How would I know?” Gao Tianyang said. “Can ordinary people guess what Tian-ge is thinking? Right, Tian-ge?”

He turned to ask, “So why?”

Jiang Tian didn’t look up. “Possessed.”

Gao Tianyang: “…”

*

The school cultural and arts festival was in the works, but only the first-year students were really invested. The second-year students practiced less, usually taking up a few evening self-study sessions.

Class A was more relaxed. He Jin was generous, especially toward Jiang Tian, giving him a long-term leave slip, saying he could practice during evening self-study if he wanted.

But Jiang Tian didn’t use many evening self-study sessions because Class B was strict, and Sheng Wang couldn’t get out. Even with a leave slip, the whole class went to the music room to practice their chorus.

On Thursday night, after the last evening self-study, Jiang Tian packed his bag to go to the lecture hall to find Sheng Wang, but he received a WeChat message from him.

Store Anniversary: Come to the arts building.

Someone: You went to practice the chorus?

Store Anniversary: Yeah.

Store Anniversary: It’s over. I got the key to the music equipment room from the teacher and took a leave from evening self-study for dorm students.

The arts building of the Affiliated High School was on the north side, close to the sports field and far from the classroom buildings of the three grades. All music and art classes were held there, and art students practiced there regularly, with some dedicated ones leaving at the 11 PM curfew.

When Jiang Tian ran downstairs, he saw Sheng Wang waiting at the entrance.

At this time, most of the arts building was dark, with only a few classrooms lit. Sheng Wang glanced up and said, “There aren’t many people left. Good thing we ran fast, or we wouldn’t have much time to practice before 11.”

Jiang Tian took three steps at a time to catch up and walked alongside him into the building. After a few seconds, he spoke, “Did you really ask me here to practice?”

Sheng Wang touched his nose, turned to look behind them. The entrance and hallway corners of the arts building had 360-degree round cameras.

In such a large school, having more cameras was normal. They were meant for security against theft, but to guilty students, they seemed like the ever-watchful eyes of Director Xu.

Sheng Wang hadn’t felt it before, but now he did.

The circular hallway wasn’t narrow, but his shoulders and arms kept bumping into Jiang Tian’s, using the excuse of accidental contact to get closer to the person he liked.

There were still two art students in the first-floor studio, and the music equipment room was next door. They walked out of the light and into the dark, and Sheng Wang lowered his eyes to unlock the door.

The equipment room wasn’t small, but it was divided into narrow aisles by rows of iron shelves. The shelves were custom-made, categorically storing different instruments. Except for pianos, which were inconvenient to move, most were here.

“Lots of dust.” The equipment room smelled musty and old, but he didn’t wave his hand to clear it.

Real art students brought their own instruments, and only those who needed them temporarily would come here, so despite the upcoming arts festival, it was still deserted.

Sheng Wang reached to turn on the light, but his fingers paused on the switch. He used his phone’s glow to scan the room and asked, “Are there cameras here?”

Jiang Tian glanced around. “I don’t see any.”

Sheng Wang nodded.

He met Jiang Tian’s gaze and asked, “Does this count as closing the door?”

Jiang Tian glanced at his phone screen, then at him. “Not really.”

Sheng Wang’s thumb flicked, and the screen went dark. The iron shelves and canvas bags plunged into darkness. The window was cluttered with debris, almost blocking the entire glass, and the light from the hallway filtered through gaps, very faint.

They could see shadows outside, but from outside, it was pitch black inside.

Sheng Wang glanced toward the window and said, “I think we can force it to count.”

Just as he said this, voices came from the stairs opposite the equipment room, clear due to the quiet night.

“Did you bring your recorder?”

“Borrowed from the equipment room.”

“Don’t you have to return it?”

“…”

Without a word, Sheng Wang turned on the light, and they walked to the guitar rack.

They had just picked up a cloth bag when the equipment room door opened. Three girls walked in and said, “Huh?”

“Jiang Tian?!” one girl exclaimed, quickly covering her mouth, clearly not expecting to see handsome guys right at the door, and not just one.

“You’re here for instruments too?” They asked before remembering to introduce themselves. “We’re from Class 10.”

Jiang Tian didn’t seem in a great mood, but he was always cold, so everyone was used to it. Sheng Wang, however, also seemed a bit unhappy. Though his voice carried a smile, his expression was indifferent. “Here to borrow a guitar. We’ll be going.”

They registered in the booklet hanging by the door and took the black bag upstairs. This time, Sheng Wang lost interest in picking a classroom and just entered an empty one.

The arts building’s design, when viewed from above, resembled a musical note. The classrooms and corridors formed a not-quite-round circle, with a landscaped garden in the middle, filled with bamboo. The shadows outside the inner windows were dense, providing good cover.

Young Master Sheng was upset about being interrupted, feeling unusually frustrated. He put down the guitar and sulked. When Jiang Tian turned around after closing the door, he saw someone already sitting on the windowsill, pulling out the hood of his sweatshirt to cover his head.

The light wasn’t on, and he sat in the shadows, looking cool but with a bit of a temper.

Jiang Tian glanced at him, then suddenly walked around the other side of the classroom, drawing all the curtains facing the hallway, and locking the front and back doors.

He walked to the window, dropped his backpack, pulled down Sheng Wang’s hood, and bent down to kiss him.

In late December, the night air was chilly. Sheng Wang had one foot on the windowsill, his back against the cold glass, gripping Jiang Tian’s neck.

They had been brothers, roommates, and classmates for several days. Rarely alone, their kiss was a bit chaotic, gradually becoming tender after a while.

*

In the morning, the Affiliated High School’s cafeteria wasn’t as crowded as at noon. Many students preferred to sleep in a bit longer, skipping hot meals for cookies or bread.

Whether Sheng Wang and his group went to the cafeteria usually depended on their mood. That morning, he and Jiang Tian were in a good mood, so they sat down early, unexpectedly running into Gao Tianyang and the others.

It was rare to see the lazy Class A group having breakfast, so Sheng Wang greeted them, and the surrounding seats quickly filled up.

“I heard you and Tian-ge practiced guitar last night?” Gao Tianyang asked, taking a bite of his food. “How did it go?”

Jiang Tian, sitting opposite, glanced at him and said, “Not great.”

“Why?” Gao Tianyang asked.

Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian both had long legs, almost intertwined under the table. Sheng Wang nudged Jiang Tian’s knee, but his eyes were on Gao Tianyang. “The guitar wasn’t good.”

“Oh, right,” Gao Tianyang agreed, unaware of the under-table actions. “It’s from the equipment room, after all. Borrowed so much, it can’t be great. So what now?”

“There’s one at home,” Sheng Wang said, looking at Jiang Tian. “After the weekly test, go home and get it?”