CoP 12

It was only now that Sui Cannong realized Ji Ling must be drunk.

He was a bit surprised, as Ji Ling still appeared calm and quiet. If it weren’t for his unreasonable question and the way he kept pressing for answers, Sui Cannong wouldn’t have noticed any difference from his usual self.

Sui Cannong wasn’t as brave as Thomas. Wearing the sprout hairpin was fine at school, but it was a different story outside the school gates.

“I really like it,” Sui Cannong lied, “but I’m afraid I might lose it if I wear it, so I put it in my bag.”

Ji Ling looked at him for a long time without speaking, as if trying to gauge the truth of his words.

“Um,” Ji Ling nodded first, then after a while, he added, “Make sure you keep it safe.”

His expression was serious, like a child making a solemn promise. Sui Cannong felt a strange flutter in his heart and eventually responded.

“Teacher Ji?” Sui Cannong called out tentatively, “Are you… a bit drunk?”

Ji Ling had been holding his wine glass, staring at a small vase on the table.

When he heard Sui Cannong’s question, he lifted his eyes and looked at him for a moment, then frowned and remained silent for a long time.

Sui Cannong felt a bit uneasy. Just as he thought Ji Ling would either deny being drunk or remain silent, Ji Ling suddenly spoke.

“The next question is worth seven points,” Ji Ling said slowly. “Please explain the principle of MRI imaging to me.”

Sui Cannong: “…?”

It seemed Ji Ling was more drunk than he had imagined. Sui Cannong couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time. He never thought he would experience being questioned by a teacher again in his life.

He didn’t know the principle of MRI imaging, but he was certain Ji Ling was drunk and shouldn’t be allowed to drink any more.

Sui Cannong stood up, trying to take the wine glass from Ji Ling’s hand while stalling, “MRI is… you know, nuclear magnetic resonance, right? It can detect tumors and other diseases without radiation…”

However, Ji Ling held onto the glass tightly, showing no intention of letting go.

“You’re describing its application, which would only earn you one point,” Ji Ling said, looking at him. “But I asked about the imaging principle.”

Ji Ling’s eyes were very dark, and Sui Cannong felt a hint of disappointment in them.

Sui Cannong wanted to scream for help. He had seen many people who behaved badly when drunk, but this was the first time he encountered someone who, while drunk, still had their own logic and thoughts.

Sui Cannong had no choice but to quickly search for the principle of MRI imaging on his phone. After reading for a few seconds, he realized he might not understand Chinese very well.

He cleared his throat and started reading from his phone, “So… because the atomic nuclei spin and generate magnetic moments…”

As Sui Cannong read a few lines, he saw Ji Ling freeze.

Taking advantage of Ji Ling’s momentary daze, Sui Cannong quickly snatched the wine glass and placed it in a safe spot where Ji Ling couldn’t see it.

Then Sui Cannong opened the ride-hailing app on his phone. He knew he had to get Ji Ling home as soon as possible, or he might be asked about the photoelectric effect and the double-slit experiment next.

However, it was quite late, and there were few cars available. The driver called to say it would take at least fifteen minutes to arrive.

When Sui Cannong looked up again, he found Ji Ling’s face very close to his.

The lighting was dim, and Ji Ling’s eyes were slightly squinted as if trying to see Sui Cannong’s face more clearly.

—However, his control of the distance between them was poor, and his movements were a bit wobbly. Their noses almost touched, and Sui Cannong could smell the faint scent of alcohol on Ji Ling.

Then Ji Ling suddenly reached out.

He gently touched Sui Cannong’s hair, as if encouraging him.

“Larmor precession isn’t part of this year’s syllabus,” Ji Ling said slowly and seriously, looking at Sui Cannong. “I know you’ve been studying hard, but don’t write about this in the exam. Save some time for the other questions, okay?”

This was completely off the charts. Just ten minutes ago, Ji Ling was still questioning him about the sprout hairpin, which meant he at least knew who Sui Cannong was at that moment.

But now, Sui Cannong realized that Ji Ling probably didn’t know who he was anymore. He must have mistaken him for one of his students.

After a while, Sui Cannong said stiffly, “Understood.”

Ji Ling seemed very satisfied with this answer.

He took his hand off Sui Cannong’s head and looked down at his empty palm, his expression becoming confused.

Sui Cannong had stealthily taken the wine glass from him, and now he saw Ji Ling look around in confusion.

Not finding his lost wine glass, Ji Ling paused for a moment and then slowly wrapped his hand around the small vase on the table.

He lowered his head and returned to his disconnected state.

Sui Cannong let out a silent sigh of relief.

The phone rang; it was the ride he had called. After a moment’s hesitation, Sui Cannong decided to put the dazed Thomas, who was still mumbling about retaking the Cambridge exam, in the passenger seat.

When Sui Cannong returned, he found Ji Ling still holding the small vase, sitting obediently in his spot.

Sui Cannong tentatively pulled on one of Ji Ling’s arms, trying to get him up from his seat. He said softly, “Let’s go, Teacher Ji.”

Ji Ling looked at Sui Cannong, his expression a bit dazed.

After a while, Ji Ling seemed to understand that they needed to leave, but he didn’t put down the vase. Instead, he held it and slowly walked towards the door.

Sui Cannong: “…”

Sui Cannong realized that either the wine glass or the vase, Ji Ling needed to hold something in his hand.

The problem was that the vase belonged to the bar, and taking it out directly would be inappropriate.

Sui Cannong hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and used all his strength to take the vase from Ji Ling’s hand and placed it on the table beside him.

Ji Ling clearly froze.

He looked lost and anxious, instinctively reaching out to grab the vase back. However, Sui Cannong stepped in front of him.

—Then Sui Cannong took Ji Ling’s hand.

Feeling his hand suddenly pulled, Ji Ling suddenly quieted down, looking confused and dazed.

Sui Cannong found this method effective and immediately used his hand to replace the vase. Without hesitation, he pulled Ji Ling into the car.

Thomas was already fast asleep in the passenger seat. Sui Cannong decided to take Ji Ling home first.

Ji Ling was surprisingly cooperative. After a moment of silence, he spoke in a broken voice, giving the directions to his home.

The car started moving smoothly, and the driver said it would take about ten minutes to reach their destination.

Sui Cannong realized that after tonight, when they met again, Ji Ling would likely return to his usual calm and polite self.

If he didn’t ask now, he might never get a real answer.

So he thought for a moment and asked the question again.

“Ji Ling,” Sui Cannong said, “Do you… have something on your mind?”

Ji Ling slowly turned his head to look at Sui Cannong.

This time, after a moment of thought, Ji Ling gave a different answer. He said somewhat vaguely, “Yes.”

He looked at Sui Cannong’s face, then thought seriously for a while before saying, “Because you answered the question well, I can tell you.”

“But you can’t tell the other students,” he added, “or the other teachers, or anyone.”

Sui Cannong knew Ji Ling still thought he was the student who had answered well and had studied diligently.

He paused for a moment, then continued the act, saying, “Okay.”

Then Ji Ling leaned close to Sui Cannong’s ear. He didn’t look directly at him, but his expression seemed a bit shy.

“Actually, there’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” he whispered.

“But I’ve never been able to do it,” Ji Ling continued, “because I’m not brave enough.”

Sui Cannong’s breath caught in his throat.

He felt his hands and feet growing cold but tried to stay calm. “What is it?”

But Ji Ling didn’t answer directly.

“I can only try, bit by bit,” Ji Ling’s speech was slow, and he yawned after a pause. “I don’t know if I can take that final step.”

“Then don’t do it,” Sui Cannong’s voice trembled, and he asked incredulously, “Why do you want to do it? You’re still so young—”

But Ji Ling shook his head.

He didn’t hear Sui Cannong’s words, just continued speaking to himself, “I have to do it…”

“Actually, the past two years… it was okay, this feeling wasn’t so strong,” he said. “But recently… a lot has happened.”

Ji Ling looked out the window. The curve of his ear was soft, and his voice was so light Sui Cannong could barely hear it. “I feel like I can’t hold back anymore.”

The wind outside was strong, and Ji Ling looked at Sui Cannong. His eyes had a hazy glow, and the corners of his eyes were tinged with a faint pink, perhaps from the alcohol.

He looked calm and gentle, as if he might dissolve in the wind at any moment.

Ji Ling leaned his head against the seat, looking very tired. His eyelashes fluttered, and then Sui Cannong saw a light smile on his lips.

He said to Sui Cannong, “I don’t want to wait any longer.”