HTC 13

This was the first time Xie Huai heard Jiang Xu curse so bluntly, and it was because of…him.

“Did you hit him?” Xie Huai asked.

Jiang Xu said: “No, I didn’t touch him.”

“It’s good that YOU didn’t touch him.” Xie Huai breathed a sigh of relief.

After hearing the meaning of Xie Huai’s words, Jiang Xu’s lips twitched slightly.

He deliberately asked Xie Huai: “Why, are you worried about him?”

Xie Huai almost choked, “Who cares about him? I’m not an idiot.”

Xie Huai hesitantly finished his sentence, “I’m worried about… you.”

Damn it. Xie Huai berated himself for making his words sound so ambiguous. Jiang Xu probably didn’t notice anything, he thought.

“Why are you worried about me?” Jiang Xu continued to ask.

In that moment, Xie Huai began to suspect that Jiang Xu was doing this on purpose, but he still hesitated as he explained, “What if there are security cameras there? If he didn’t hit you, but you hit him, that jerk Yuan Tao might report it to the authorities.”

Jiang Xu observed Xie Huai’s expression and then uttered a few words, “There are no security cameras there.”

Xie Huai cursed under his breath, “Damn, that jerk Yuan Tao got off easy.”

The volume of his words was just right to be heard by the physics teacher, Mr. Yang, who had entered the classroom carrying textbooks.

Xie Huai’s heart skipped a beat, and an unknown premonition came to his mind.

The whole class looked at Xie Huai, their eyes seemed to say, ‘Xie Huai, you’re in trouble.’

Their physics teacher was a Mediterranean man balding with only a few hairs left. His name is Yang Shunguo. He is in his forties. He is tall and thin. He has a fierce look on his face and looks very difficult to get along with.

His temper was just like his appearance.

“Xie Huai?” Yang Shunguo put the physics book on the podium, put his hands on both sides, and looked at him.

“Are you capable of repeating what you just said?” Mr. Yang’s voice was stern.

Xie Huai anticipated this response. He had heard similar statements many times, and they had become routine.

For instance, if Mr. Yang noticed someone making a small move, he would call that person to repeat it. If someone was talking in class, he’d have them stand up and say it again. He had even made a student cry in his class once, and when the student finished crying, Mr. Yang had asked them to cry again.

As a result, Mr. Yang didn’t have a very good reputation among the students.

Leaning back in his chair, Xie Huai opened his mouth and said, “I said, Damn, that jerk Yuan Tao got off easy.”

The whole class immediately laughed.

Hao Xuxi turned his head and gave Xie Huai a thumbs up: “6.”

Yang Shunguo also heard about the incident between Xie Huai and the others and No. 24 High School. He knew that it was not their fault, and that Xie Huai had his foot deliberately injured by the man named Yuan Tao.

He looked at Xie Huai and then picked up the book: “Don’t use bad words next time. Okay, let’s start class.”

Xie Huai skipped every physical education class that week. To avoid inconveniencing Jiang Xu, who had to carry him up and down the stairs, he stayed in the classroom during gym class, napping on his desk.

There was a physical education class where Jiang Xu didn’t bring his school uniform jacket and put it on the desk. To his right was the corridor window, which was not closed. The wind blew by from time to time. After sleeping for half a class, Xie Huai began to feel a bit cold. He lifted his eyelids and saw Jiang Xu’s school jacket on his left side.

He reached over and draped it over himself. As he took in the familiar scent of grass and wood, he felt more comfortable and drifted back to sleep.

When the gym class was over, Jiang Xu returned to find Xie Huai sleeping, covered by his school jacket.

Realizing that someone was next to him, Xie Huai knew without a doubt that it was Jiang Xu, who had just returned from gym class. However, he didn’t open his eyes; they remained shut.

Jiang Xu stared at Xie Huai for a while, then suddenly reached out and lightly pinched Xie Huai’s right index finger, which was resting on the desk.

Xie Huai was caught off guard, and his eyelashes trembled slightly.

He felt like he could hardly breathe. Jiang Xu, what are you doing?

A second before Xie Huai opened his eyes, Jiang Xu withdrew his hand.

There was no discernible expression on his face; he appeared quite calm. Xie Huai thought to himself, ‘If I were asleep, I wouldn’t have known that you, Jiang Xu, would be doing such things to your desk mate while he sleeps.’

He could still make such a look of ‘none of my business,’ Xie Huai thought that it would be a pity if Jiang Xu didn’t go to be an actor in the future.

—

Xie Huai had told his uncle not to tell his parents before, but Zhao Li and the others found out in the end.

Then they immediately called Xie Huai.

“Huaihuai, how are you?” Zhao Li’s voice on the phone was filled with concern and worry. “Is it still hurting?”

“Mom, I’m fine,” Xie Huai reassured her with a smile. “It’s been a few days now, and my foot doesn’t hurt much anymore. You and Dad don’t need to worry about me. My uncles have already taken care of everything, and besides, someone is looking after me.”

As he spoke, he glanced at Jiang Xu outside the bedroom, who was fetching water for him. Jiang Xu noticed Xie Huai’s gaze and looked back, but instead of feeling guilty for being caught looking, Xie Huai smiled at him.

“Remember to tell me and your dad if something like this happens in the future, otherwise we will be very worried about you. Don’t hold it in alone. Remember whatever happens, you still have us,” Zhao Li said to Xie Huai in a gentle and caring tone, and then realized what Xie Huai just said, “You said someone is taking care of you? Who?”

Xie Huai said: “Jiang Xu.”

“Classmate Xiao Jiang?” Zhao Li asked in surprise, “Will it be too much trouble for him? How about I come home.”

Xie Huai quickly stopped: “No need, Mom. You guys have your own busy schedules. He offered to take care of me.”

“Did he say that himself?” Zhao Li paused.

Xie Huai said, “Hmm.”

She had noticed before that Jiang Xu and Xie Huai’s relationship was unusual. First, it was taking care of the dog, and now he was taking care of her son directly.

Suddenly, it dawned on her. Could it be…

“Huaihuai, tell mom, are you and Jiang Xu…”

Xie Huai: “What is it?”

“Are you guys together?” Zhao Li said.

Puff-

Xie Huai nearly choked on his own blood.

Why did his mother think of this so directly?

Xie Huai gritted his teeth and explained to Zhao Li: “Mom, we’re not.”

Zhao Li’s tone was obviously disbelieving: “Oh, really?”

Xie Huai raised his head and said, “Yes, at least not yet.”

Zhao Li caught some words and suddenly smiled on the other end of the phone: “Huaihuai, do you like classmate Xiao Jiang?”

This time Xie Huai did not deny it: “Yes, I like him.”

“What do you like?” Jiang Xu’s slightly hoarse voice reached Xie Huai’s ears from not far away.

Xie Huai was startled and dropped his phone on the floor, making a soft clattering sound.

Then he quickly picked it up, intending to say goodbye to Zhao Li, but he heard his mother burst into hearty laughter on the other end of the line.

Xie Huai: “…”

After ending the call, Xie Huai was still in a state of shock.

“Did I scare you?” Jiang Xu approached the bed and asked.

He looked at Xie Huai’s face, which had not yet calmed down, and regretted that he had suddenly spoken out just now.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

Xie Huai immediately said: “No, I was not scared by you.”

It wasn’t Jiang Xu’s sudden voice that had startled him; Xie Huai’s nerves weren’t that fragile.

He was just afraid that Jiang Xu heard what he just said.

Xie Huai was afraid that Jiang Xu would ignore him after knowing that he liked him.

Jiang Xu half-crouched in front of him. Xie Huai raised his eyes and looked at Jiang Xu.

He saw himself reflected in Jiang Xu’s pupils.

Suddenly, Xie Huai’s heart skipped a beat, and the pain made him furrow his brows slightly.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Xu’s expression immediately changed. “Where does it hurt?”

Xie Huai shook his head. “It’s nothing, I just had a moment of palpitation, it’s a bit painful.”

“Xie Huai, do you realize that you need to take care of your body?” Jiang Xu’s expression became serious. “Tomorrow, I’ll take you to the hospital for a check-up.”

“No need…” Xie Huai said, “Do I need to go to the hospital just for a momentary palpitation? I’ve had it before, it’s quite normal.”

“Even so, you should go to the hospital. Dr. Qin also mentioned that you should have your foot examined at the hospital,” Jiang Xu stood up, his tone brooking no refusal. “I’ll ask for leave from school.”

Xie Huai reached out and tugged at the corner of Jiang Xu’s shirt, stopping him. “Can we go the day after tomorrow? Let me finish my classes tomorrow.”

Jiang Xu didn’t move.

Xie Huai said again: “Jiang Xu.”

Jiang Xu finally reluctantly agreed.

Now, Xie Huai found walking much more manageable than a few days ago. He had just finished showering, and as he opened the bathroom door, he saw Jiang Xu standing there as usual.

Jiang Xu had been like this these past few days, standing on one side of the bathroom door. Then when Xie Huai opened the door, he walked over, picked up Xie Huai, then walked to the bed and put him on the bed.

Xie Huai has never been cared for like this by anyone since he grew up. He was not used to it at first, but after being hugged like this a couple times by Jiang Xu, he gradually got used to it.

It’s true that he was embarrassed, but it’s also true that he wanted to be Princess carried by Jiang Xu.

After Jiang Xu finished tidying up and intended to leave the room for the living room, Xie Huai suddenly stopped him.

“Jiang Xu, would you… like to sleep with me?” Xie Huai tentatively asked.

Jiang Xu was momentarily stunned, then replied, “No.”

Xie Huai asked, “Huh?”

Sure enough, Jiang Xu didn’t want to sleep with him.

Xie Huai couldn’t help but feel a little uncomfortable.

Then Xie Huai heard Jiang Xu say lightly: “I haven’t taken a shower yet.”

Xie Huai: “???”

“You go to bed first, I’ll take a shower.” Jiang Xu turned around and couldn’t help but lower his head and smile.

He entered the bathroom with some clothes, and Xie Huai glanced in the direction of the bathroom door.

“Holy shit.” Xie Huai was dumbfounded.

The bathroom door was frosted and semi-transparent. Although he couldn’t see everything inside, he could make out a somewhat clear silhouette.

Jiang Xu’s body had smooth lines, from his shoulder blades down to his calves, it all looked firm and well-defined…

Well, it wasn’t that obvious, but it seemed like his development was pretty good.

Xie Huai suddenly turned his head away, and his face turned beet red.

He thought back to the time he was in there. Jiang Xu probably didn’t see anything. After all, Jiang Xu was standing to the side and likely couldn’t see much.

Jiang Xu came out of the bathroom, saw that Xie Huai was already lying down, and left him half of the bed.

He walked over quietly, turned off the light, and then lay down on Xie Huai’s back. He wanted to reach out and touch him but was afraid of disturbing Xie Huai, so he whispered, “Goodnight.”

Xie Huai was not asleep. He and Jiang Xu both had their own concerns. At some point, Xie Huai felt a spot behind him sink down, accompanied by a faint scent of grass and wood. After a few minutes, Jiang Xu heard Xie Huai’s steady breathing, which was only a few centimeters away. This reassured him, and he gradually drifted off to sleep.

Today was the deadline for signing up for the autumn sports meeting, and the sports committee member was staring at the registration forms with a troubled expression.

Several events hadn’t reached the required number of participants, such as the men’s 3,000 meters, triple jump, and 800-meter relay.

All three of these events were short of just one participant.

The sports committee member went around asking, and either the students had already reached the maximum of three selected events or they couldn’t participate in running events.

The autumn sports meeting allowed each student to sign up for a maximum of three events.

“I’ll run the 3,000 meters,” Xie Huai said.

Jiang Xu frowned as he put down his pen and looked at Xie Huai.

Others around them also turned their attention to Xie Huai.

Xie Huai knew what Jiang Xu was worried about. He said, “The autumn sports meeting is still more than a month away, and my foot will be fully healed by then. It’s not a big deal.”

“For the sake of our class not being penalized, it’s not a big deal to run for a little bit.”

The students around him were instantly moved.

If Xie Huai wasn’t very good at the triple jump, he would have done it too.

Jiang Xu finally signed up for the 800-meter relay. He offered to switch with Xie Huai, but Xie Huai refused.

“Watch, I’ll get first place,” Xie Huai said to Jiang Xu.

Jiang Xu looked at Xie Huai with a mysterious glint in his eyes. “What happens after you get first place?”

“I haven’t thought about it,” Xie Huai replied.

“Can you give it to me?” Jiang Xu said, “I’m not talking about the award.”

Xie Huai’s heart skipped several beats. “What are you talking about?”

Jiang Xu leaned in close to Xie Huai’s ear, and Xie Huai could feel Jiang Xu’s breath tickling his neck, causing a slight itch. It made him instinctively want to move away, but he didn’t.

“I’ll tell you tonight,” Jiang Xu whispered.