MTLY | Chapter 23

“Things for girls.”

The next day, art room.

Li Yiliang had been tormented by his recent art assignments to the point that he’d lost a full circle of weight. Right now, he was sprawled across the desk beside the canvas, wailing miserably, “Why did I ever think I should become an art student? If I’d just studied hard back then, I wouldn’t have to…”

Thinking of the mountains of sophomore-year test papers, Li Yiliang jerked back to his senses and calmly changed course. “No, wait. Being a gifted student is better.”

After venting, Li Yiliang straightened up again and turned back to his drawing board. “Brother Yu, help me check this, how’s the perspective?”

Beside him, Jiang Yu yawned, looking cool and tired.

Li Yiliang glanced at Jiang Yu’s computer and knew Jiang Yu was working on the modeling competition.

“When’s the competition?”

“Next week.”

“Bro, you’re…” Li Yiliang sized him up.

Normal late nights couldn’t make Brother Yu look this weak.

Li Yiliang said, “You pulled an all-nighter?”

Jiang Yu’s eyelids drooped as he gave a low hum. “Pretty much.”

“Why?”

“Chatting.”

“?”

Li Yiliang’s pupils shook in shock for a second. “You’re doing online dating?!”

Jiang Yu: “…”

Jiang Yu really hadn’t expected it. Song Tinghuan looked quiet and subdued, but she was actually a little chatterbox. She’d dragged things out with random small talk until two or three in the morning. Once she finally fell asleep peacefully, he ended up unable to sleep himself.

Li Yiliang was still in shock. “Which school is she from? Is she pretty? Is she local to Jiangbei?”

Jiang Yu couldn’t be bothered to deal with him. He didn’t even spare him a glance, only said listlessly, “Just a kid.”

“Damn!” Li Yiliang instantly lost his cool. “A kid? How old?”

Jiang Yu: “…Are you sick?”

Li Yiliang went quiet. Jiang Yu had also stopped what he was doing, now watching the playground with interest.

The art room was on the fifth floor, with a great view. Li Yiliang followed Jiang Yu’s gaze and saw a chaotic crowd below, with a middle-aged man standing in the middle. He was stout and round, with a hearty, almost comical build. It was none other than the famously well-known Qin Shuxia from the high school division.

Half the playground was nearly occupied. A group of freshmen had each stuffed their lower bodies into sacks and were hopping along with great difficulty.

Li Yiliang said, “What is that?”

Jiang Yu’s lips curved. “Sack race.”

“?” Li Yiliang narrowed his eyes. “What’s so interesting about that?”

“Do you have a classmate in the broadcast station?”

“Yeah.”

“Help me request a song for the junior students.”

“What song?”

The smile at the corner of Jiang Yu’s mouth deepened as he looked at the slender figure moving slowly across the playground. “‘Snail.'”

Li Yiliang: “?”

*

Before today’s long afternoon break, Song Tinghuan had always thought Qin Shuxia was a very reliable, very good teacher.

But right now, the teacher was still a good teacher, just not very reliable-looking.

On the playground, Qin Shuxia rubbed a hand over the increasingly sparse crown of his head and raised a loudspeaker. “Come on, students from Class 3 and Class 4, line up left and right!”

The class monitors and P.E. representatives from both classes had already hauled over two huge stacks of sacks. They stood there stiffly, every line of their faces screaming refusal.

Only Qin Shuxia stood in an open space between the two classes, speaking with fervor. “That’s right, students, it’s time once again for our monthly sack-race competition. I believe this is already familiar to all of you.”

Song Tinghuan was actually very unfamiliar with it, so she asked in a low voice, “Monthly?”

Guan Linlin nodded. “Yep. More punctual than my period.”

Song Tinghuan: “…”

Guan Linlin leaned closer and whispered in her ear, “Every time before monthly exams, Old Qin organizes a sack race for our two classes because he says,”

“Kangaroos can only move forward, never backward!” Qin Shuxia shouted, raising a clenched fist. “I hope you all can have that same kangaroo spirit in your studies and your lives, always charging forward, never retreating. Students, one, two, three, let’s get hyped!”

The two-class formation fell into complete silence. Around them were many students from other grades and classes who had come to watch the fun. Song Tinghuan felt like they were monkeys now, about to put on a performance.

Strictly speaking, Song Tinghuan was a complete failure at sports. She usually didn’t take part in any class activities involving athletics and was forever a fixed member of the cheer squad. The sack race was her first time.

A classmate on the opposite side had already hopped over. “Song Tinghuan, hurry!”

Song Tinghuan awkwardly stepped into the sack, gripping the rough edge with both hands. The moment she bent her legs, her whole body lurched forward uncontrollably. Luckily, a girl beside her grabbed her arm.

“Thanks.” Song Tinghuan felt embarrassed. She heard the girl beside her say, “You need to step in firmly, keep every step steady, don’t rush, or you’ll easily fall.”

Song Tinghuan nodded and adjusted her stance. Maybe because she had nearly fallen just now, she was much more cautious this time. She didn’t dare really jump at all, only shuffling forward little by little, looking ridiculous and heavy.

The students around her changed over and over. Song Tinghuan felt like she had already been hopping for a long time. When she looked back, she realized she had only covered a little over ten meters.

That was when the broadcast station’s music started playing. A bright female voice said, “The next song is ‘Snail,’ dedicated to the students on the playground who are enthusiastically doing the sack race. I hope you all have the spirit of a snail. Being slow doesn’t matter, as long as you keep moving step by step toward the goal in your heart.”

Song Tinghuan: “…”

It was a good song, just a little too on the nose.

After the familiar opening instrumental, a highly recognizable male voice came in, and so under the repeated line of “I want to climb up step by step,” Song Tinghuan struggled forward with tiny hops, feeling like she was being called out.

All the way until evening study hall, Song Tinghuan remained in a gloomy mood, lying on her desk with her delicate brows furrowed.

Her phone lit up with a message from Jiang Yu: 【How are you solving dinner?】

Song Tinghuan replied: 【I’ll eat at the cafeteria】

Jiang Yu: 【Mm】

She thought he was only asking in passing, but after a moment, Jiang Yu sent two more characters: 【Together】

“…”

Song Tinghuan didn’t really want to eat with Jiang Yu. She was already uncomfortable, and eating with Jiang Yu would inevitably draw attention. She had already been a monkey for an entire afternoon.

After hesitating for a while, she messaged Jiang Yu: 【Can you eat by yourself?】

Jiang Yu: 【?】

Song Tinghuan wanted to come up with an excuse and opened her English book, only to see Jiang Yu’s student ID card tucked inside. That was when she remembered Jiang Yu’s campus card was still with her.

Song Tinghuan: 【Then let’s eat together】

She could return the campus card to him at the same time.

A long time later, Jiang Yu replied with a single 【Mm】.

*

Guan Linlin had asked for leave from tonight’s evening study hall, so this was the first time Song Tinghuan had gone to the cafeteria alone.

It was dinner time, and the cafeteria was packed and noisy. Song Tinghuan lowered her head to message Jiang Yu, wanting to ask if he was out yet. Just as she typed two characters, she heard someone calling her from behind.

“Junior, over here!”

Song Tinghuan turned around and saw Li Yiliang waving at her. Jiang Yu was standing lazily at the side, listening to Han Shuming talk.

“Junior, what do you want to eat? I’ll go get it for you. Just find a place to sit first.” Li Yiliang looked around and spotted an empty table. He was about to reach out and touch Song Tinghuan’s shoulder when Jiang Yu brushed his hand away.

“If you’re talking, just talk. Don’t get handsy.”

Li Yiliang: “?”

Song Tinghuan: “…”

The girl had thin skin, so one casual tease was enough to make her cheeks go a little red. Jiang Yu lowered his eyes to her face, now tinted with a faint blush. “What do you want to eat?”

Song Tinghuan puffed out her cheeks a little to ease the awkwardness, then pulled her student card from her uniform pocket. “Your card.”

Jiang Yu looked down, both hands in his pants pockets, and didn’t take it. Song Tinghuan didn’t understand and looked up at him, her soft black eyes a little dazed.

“Not reading anymore?” Jiang Yu asked.

“Huh?”

Before Song Tinghuan could react, the boy in front of her rubbed her head once. By her ear, Jiang Yu’s voice was cool and low. “Keep it safe.”

Song Tinghuan: “…”

With Jiang Yu and Li Yiliang around, Song Tinghuan didn’t need to crowd the window to get food. She just had to sit quietly and help them hold their seats. Before long, the three tall boys came back carrying their trays.

Li Yiliang said something cheap again, earning a cold look from Jiang Yu. Han Shuming pushed up his glasses, watching the two of them with some amusement.

Jiang Yu set the tray in his hands down in front of Song Tinghuan. There was stir-fried pork with bamboo shoots and wood ear mushrooms with cucumber, very light dishes, both to Song Tinghuan’s taste.

Li Yiliang flashed a white grin and bragged, “Good thing I’m quick on my feet. The last portion of spare ribs, I…”

Then Li Yiliang watched helplessly as the last portion of his beloved spare ribs landed in Jiang Yu’s hands. “Brother Yu!”

Jiang Yu gave a faint snort and picked up the serving chopsticks.

Li Yiliang grabbed Jiang Yu’s arm, eyes full of gratitude. “I knew you wouldn’t be this cruel to me. You know I’m still growing…”

Jiang Yu used his chopsticks to pick every scallion on the ribs off one by one and drop them into Li Yiliang’s bowl.

Jiang Yu said, “Mm, growing. Eat more greens and get your vitamins.”

Li Yiliang: “…”

Still unwilling to give up, Li Yiliang stared at the plate of spare ribs with puppy-dog eyes. “Bro… Dad!”

Maybe Jiang Yu was disgusted by that, because he said, “Enough. Stop fighting a kid for food.”

With that, Jiang Yu put the last plate of spare ribs into Song Tinghuan’s tray.

Song Tinghuan was still a little embarrassed, especially under Li Yiliang’s pleading gaze across from her. “I won’t be able to finish this. Why don’t we all split it…”

Li Yiliang said, “Yeah, split it!”

Jiang Yu said, “Can you have some shame?”

Li Yiliang: “…”

Facing Song Tinghuan’s awkward look, Jiang Yu lowered his eyes. “Wait for me after evening study hall. About twenty minutes. If you’re scared, come to our class.”

“Mm.”

The girl’s voice was soft. She didn’t even ask why. Jiang Yu turned his head, and now that they were close, he noticed Song Tinghuan’s face was a little pale. “You don’t feel well?”

“No.” Thinking of the sack race that afternoon, Song Tinghuan felt unbearably embarrassed. She would absolutely not tell Jiang Yu that she had hopped one hundred meters in a sack while listening to ‘Snail.’

It was too humiliating.

Seeing that Jiang Yu was still looking at her, Song Tinghuan added in a small voice, “Maybe it’s…”

“The sack race wore you out,” Li Yiliang blurted out immediately, without the slightest awareness of Song Tinghuan’s embarrassment. “Your class teacher is kind of interesting. No wonder he’s an outstanding teacher.”

Then Li Yiliang turned to Jiang Yu. “Hey, you and Old Han, that competition of yours, is your advisor teacher the same guy?”

Jiang Yu gave a hum and continued eating quietly.

Song Tinghuan wasn’t feeling well, so she didn’t pay much attention to the competition. Her attention was still stuck on Li Yiliang saying he’d seen their sack race.

“Senior, you…” She sneaked another glance at Jiang Yu. “You saw it?”

“Yeah. I happened to be in the art room with Brother Yu. Full panoramic view.”

“…”

“Brother Yu even requested a song for you all.”

“?”

Song Tinghuan suddenly looked at Jiang Yu. Jiang Yu’s hand on the chopsticks also paused slightly. He lifted his eyes and met the girl’s fixed stare. Her watery eyes were bright and dark.

“Not gonna lie, it really fit the mood, little snails, inching along… Damn, Old Han, why are you kicking me!” Li Yiliang shouted at Han Shuming.

Han Shuming shot him a look. Li Yiliang turned around, only then noticing the atmosphere between the two opposite him was a little strange.

Song Tinghuan had big eyes, round and black like grapes, and right now there seemed to be mist gathering at the bottom of them. As for Jiang Yu sitting across from her, he rarely ever looked this… awkward.

Li Yiliang scratched his head. What was going on?

*

Song Tinghuan unilaterally decided to go on a cold war with Jiang Yu.

So the broadcast station really had nothing better to do than request a song for them, and even choose ‘Snail.’ It turned out Jiang Yu had seen how clumsy she looked and deliberately poked fun at her.

For the entire evening study hall, Song Tinghuan kept a tight little face. Her phone vibrated several times. She saw messages from Jiang Yu, but didn’t reply to a single one. In the end, she simply switched it to silent.

This study hall lasted a full hour, with no teacher, a true study hall in name and in fact. Song Tinghuan felt uncomfortable, so she lay on her desk memorizing words. Her calves ached, and even her lower abdomen felt a little swollen.

After she finished a few pages of vocabulary, a dull ache started to tug at her lower stomach. Song Tinghuan suddenly remembered something.

It seemed her period had been due around these days last month.

As if by telepathy, a faint trace of dampness came flowing out.

Song Tinghuan: “…”

When Song Tinghuan got to the bathroom, she discovered that her uniform pants had been stained.

What was she supposed to do?

She had never gone to buy sanitary pads by herself before. In the past, these things were always bought directly by the auntie at home. She was careful and would always prepare everything properly.

The school convenience store should sell them, but her pants were dirty, and she was too embarrassed to go out like this.

The only classmate in Song Tinghuan’s phone was Guan Linlin, and tonight she just happened to be off campus.

The dull pain rose again in her lower abdomen. What should she do, who should she ask?

At the most lost and helpless moment, her phone screen lit up.

Jiang Yu: 【You’re really not talking to me anymore?】

Maybe… she could ask Jiang Yu for help?

The idea surfaced for just a moment before Song Tinghuan rejected it.

No, how could she tell Jiang Yu? It was too hard to say.

Song Tinghuan pulled out an entire pack of tissues, wanting to make do for now, but it seemed like heaven was deliberately making things difficult for her. Just as she pulled out one tissue, with a soft thud, the whole pack fell into the toilet.

At that moment, Song Tinghuan felt so wronged she could cry. Even the tissues were against her!

That was also when Jiang Yu’s call came in. She didn’t even have time to think about how to say it before she answered, “Jiang Yu…”

Those three soft words carried a touch of nasal congestion.

“What’s wrong?” The boy’s voice was clear and cool, but unusually serious.

Song Tinghuan bit her lip and couldn’t quite say it.

The surrounding silence made the voice from the receiver sound even more urgent, with the faint sound of something being written down. “Song Tinghuan.”

He rarely called her that, and his tone was cool and stern.

Song Tinghuan clutched the hem of her pants. “Jiang Yu, can you… can you…”

“What is it?”

“I…”

“Song Tingting!”

Song Tinghuan gritted her teeth. “I got my clothes dirty, can you help me…”

Her voice suddenly grew even smaller, until only four barely audible words remained: “Buy something for me.”

“Mm?”

“Stuff for girls.”

Jiang Yu: “…”

Author’s note:

The second update will be in the afternoon~

A tiny red packet~