PSWHNC CH42

Chapter 42 Learned Something

05:07:55

[Not Zhile]: Good morning, gege. New day, new energy.

[Stinky Mandarin]: ……

[Stinky Mandarin]: It’s too early.

[Not Zhile]: Are you coming to play today? I’m doing college entrance exam papers, and some of them are kind of hard.

[Stinky Mandarin]: Not coming, not coming. ‘The innocent can vindicate themselves’ doesn’t apply to me.

[Stinky Mandarin]: You don’t even know what I went through last night.

[Stinky Mandarin]: If you’re stuck, just video call me. I’ll pick up unless I’m showering. Everyone rests on the weekends. No need to get ahead on that stuff.

[Not Zhile]: Hahaha, see you Monday then. I’m going back to sleep.

[Stinky Mandarin]: So you woke me up specifically at this time? smiling.jpg

[Not Zhile]: You go back to sleep too smirking.jpg

[Stinky Mandarin]: You really went all out just to wake me up for the drama.

On Monday morning before self-study, Luo Zhiyu made time to go upstairs and return Xiao Yan’s nap blanket. He opened the window of Class 2-3 and tossed it back.

Xiao Yan was working through some problems at his desk when the window beside him suddenly slid open. A towel blanket landed squarely on his head.

“I washed it,” Luo Zhiyu said proudly. “Smell it. There’s no trace of your pheromone left, right?”

Xiao Yan: “……” He really didn’t want to be discussing the original scent of his blanket during morning reading.

None of the students in the class were reading anymore. Everyone was muttering who-knows-what under their breath, secretly peeking at Luo Zhiyu outside the window and occasionally whispering to each other.

Xiao Yan pulled the blanket off his head, folded it neatly, and stuffed it into his desk drawer before motioning for Luo Zhiyu to leave.

“First you toss your blanket into his suitcase, and then you made him wash it for you,” someone joked, leaning over. “Do you think you’re treating him fairly?”

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Luo Zhiyu said cheerfully. Ever since things had eased up between them, he’d even taken to defending Xiao Yan on occasion. “I volunteered. I’m very happy to do his laundry.”

“Shut up already,” Xiao Yan said from the window seat, reaching out to hit him. But Luo Zhiyu had seen it coming and backed away just in time, grinning even more smugly.

When Teacher Li came into the classroom to assign homework, the first thing he noticed was the red-and-white school uniform. That first-year student had been making frequent visits upstairs lately. He seemed to be getting quite comfortable dropping by.

“Hello, Teacher Li,” Luo Zhiyu greeted politely. “I just came to check if my Yan-ge is doing well.”

Teacher Li: “?” This kid sounded unusually polite, but somehow, it felt oddly sarcastic.

Luckily, she didn’t dwell on it. As soon as the bell rang, Luo Zhiyu slipped away down the stairwell.

No. 1 High School campus forum—

【Breaking: Xiao Yan actually made Luo Zhiyu wash his blanket. And Luo Zhiyu actually agreed. Are they fighting or dating at this point?】

1L: Their relationship is a mystery. I just want to ask if I still have a chance.

2L: Uh… how did the story turn into this version… covering face while crying.jpg Just get used to it. They’re like this all day, every day. Never a quiet moment.

3L: It’s just friendly interaction. Don’t overthink it. In short, they’re absolutely pure.

4L: They’re ABSOLUTELY PURE!!! (voice cracking)

5L: Are they really close enough to be swapping pheromones now? doge.jpg

6L: What’s the big deal? Zero-match. Honestly, I’ve always thought all those rigid AO rules are annoying. I really like the way they interact. Go for it, Yan-ge. Don’t chicken out.

7L: I don’t know why, but it feels like 6L is trying to stir the pot.

During the mid-morning break, Luo Zhiyu ran into Xiao Yan again. Xiao Yan and a few student council members were wearing duty badges, going around with the teachers to inspect the morning exercises in each class. Hardly anyone in high school actually enjoyed doing radio calisthenics. Taller students tried to hide at the back and just waved their arms and stretched their legs half-heartedly. Those stuck in the front row had no choice but to put on a forced smile and follow the exercise leader.

When Xiao Yan reached Class 1-3, Luo Zhiyu was goofing off happily in the back row, completely unaware that someone was approaching. A week ago, Luo Zhiyu was still a good student who diligently did calisthenics, until one day, this group showed him the joy of slacking off.

It wasn’t that they necessarily disliked exercise, but challenging the rules themselves was inherently enjoyable for high school students whose academic lives were often dry and monotonous. Even just chatting in the back row while pretending to follow along was something they genuinely enjoyed.

“Next week is Cultural Arts Week,” someone said. “Why does No. 1 High always schedule it right before finals? Who even has the mood for it?”

“It’s been so cold lately. Look at this gloomy weather. I bet it’ll snow this afternoon,” another person said.

“It is freezing,” Luo Zhiyu muttered, pulling his hands into his sleeves as he bounced around half-heartedly with the crowd, trying to warm up a bit.

“I’ve decided I’m not going home until after finals,” Jing Ximing said as the PE teacher on the platform bent forward to the beat of the music. He gave a slight bow, counting it as bending. “Going home’s a waste of time. Even when I do go, I don’t do anything. I carry back a whole bag of books like I’m really gonna study, then I bring the entire bag back untouched. I feel like an idiot.”

“My weekend was actually kind of thrilling,” Luo Zhiyu said, thinking back to Friday night. The memory of Xiao Yan’s last message, ‘cover me,’ almost made him laugh out loud on the track.

That was when Xiao Yan caught him. “What are you laughing about? You’re so happy. Tell me so I can share in the fun.”

“Trust me,” Luo Zhiyu blurted out. “You probably won’t be laughing.”

The moment the slackers saw student council members on patrol, they scrambled back to their original spots, quickly mimicking the correct motions. However, Luo Zhiyu didn’t have enough time. Xiao Yan arrived too suddenly, and the group abandoned their teammate too quickly. For a moment, Luo Zhiyu couldn’t even remember where he was supposed to stand.

Luo Zhiyu: “……”

Xiao Yan, impartially doing his duty, pulled the lone straggler aside.

“They sold me out,” Luo Zhiyu accused.

“Not my concern,” Xiao Yan replied. “You can sell your teammates too. In these situations, whoever gets caught, gets caught.”

“Which class?” Xiao Yan asked, putting on a stern face. “Stand straight. Stop looking around.”

“Class 2-3,” Luo Zhiyu said quickly, right before Xiao Yan could speak. “You wrote it yourself on my workbook. I haven’t even had time to correct it. Solid evidence. No objections allowed. If you argue, you’re just proving I’m right.”

Xiao Yan: “……” He had no comeback.

“What part of the routine are we on?” Xiao Yan asked, still keeping a straight face. Rules were rules. He had to at least go through the motions. “Stand still. No talking about other things.”

“Class 2-3, Luo Zhile, thanks,” Luo Zhiyu said, inching closer. “You wrote the class. You’re the one who keeps calling me Zhile. Just mark it down, dock the points, don’t hold back. Let’s not make a fuss.”

He patted Xiao Yan’s shoulder and softened his tone. “Yan-ge, can’t you just pretend you didn’t see me? Out of everyone slacking off, you’re only picking me?”

Luo Zhiyu whispered in Xiao Yan’s ear, “Don’t you have a soft spot for me? Yan-ge.”

“You two in the back row of Class 1-3, what are you doing?” Director Xu called out from the podium. “Student on duty, keep working. The other one, get back to your place. Morning exercises only take a few minutes. Whatever you have to say, does it really have to be now? If it’s that important, why not come up front and share it with all of us?”

The crowd on the sports field burst into laughter, and the lines they had just straightened fell apart again.

Luo Zhiyu slipped back into his class’ row, blending back into the group and continuing to coast through the rest of the routine. Xiao Yan stayed where he was for a couple of seconds, waiting until the faint warmth at his neck faded before moving on.

Luo Zhiyu smiled faintly, feeling satisfied for winning a round. As he glanced back, he caught sight of Xiao Yan’s figure under the pale winter sky, his blue-and-white school uniform standing out as he walked away. His jacket was unzipped, and the cold winter wind made it flap slightly. Maybe it was the color of the uniform, but to Luo Zhiyu, Xiao Yan seemed unusually conspicuous at that moment.

There was something about the scene, a strange mix of loneliness and coolness, that struck him in an unexpected way.

“We’re all wearing the same uniform. Why is he acting so cool,” Luo Zhiyu muttered. “How come I never noticed this before?”

“You’re right,” Jing Ximing replied, completely lost.

The sky had stayed gloomy all morning, and by afternoon, light snow had finally begun to fall. A thin layer of condensation fogged up the classroom windows.

When Xiao Yan passed by Class 1-3 that afternoon, the classroom door was closed and the windows were all fogged up, making it hard to see inside. A few students near the window were doodling on the glass with bamboo stalks, smiley faces, watermelons. But one window stood out: someone had written ‘Xiao Yan’ on it, and next to the name was a turtle with a mandarin on its back. The drawing was surprisingly well done, clearly not in the same style as the rest.

Xiao Yan: “……”

Fan Yue quickly stepped in to mediate. “Let it go, let it go. Let’s pretend we were never here. We didn’t see anything.”

“No way. We can’t just let this slide.”

Otherwise, there would definitely be a next time.

The snow grew heavier in the afternoon, and soon it began to pile up on the ground. By the time Luo Zhiyu headed to the canteen for dinner, the snow was already fairly thick. Just after evening study started, Jing Ximing pulled a sticky note off Luo Zhiyu’s back. It had a drawing of a turtle on it, looking a lot like the one from the window.

[Not Zhile]: Do you have nothing better to do?

[Stinky Mandarin]: Do you have nothing better to do?

[Not Zhile]: When did you even stick it on? I didn’t feel a thing.

[Stinky Mandarin]: When you were burying your face in that chicken leg.

[Not Zhile]: Gege is too mean.

[Not Zhile]: puppy eyes.jpg

[Stinky Mandarin]: ……

[Stinky Mandarin]: I don’t know why, but I feel like our chat history has a certain vibe to it.

[Stinky Mandarin]: I reflected on it, and it’s probably your fault.

[Not Zhile]: It is not.

[Not Zhile]: Stop talking nonsense.

[Stinky Mandarin]: Alright then.

[Stinky Mandarin]: Gege isn’t mean. Come up and play. Gege won’t bully you.

[Stinky Mandarin]: smirking.jpg

Suddenly, the classroom went pitch black. All the lights shut off, and for a moment, the only source of light was the glow from Luo Zhiyu’s phone screen. The snowstorm had knocked out power across the entire campus. Luo Zhiyu, who’d been secretly on his phone during evening study, was instantly exposed.

“The power should be back on soon,” the homeroom teacher said calmly, clearly used to this. “Don’t panic, stay in your seats, keep your voices down, and don’t be like the class next door.

“What were you chatting about? You’re the only one playing on your phone during evening self-study.” The supervising teacher glanced over. “Hand over your phone. Who are you chatting with so happily? You’re not even doing your homework properly.”

Luo Zhiyu handed over his phone.

Upstairs in Class 2-3, Xiao Yan received a new message request—

“Qiangtoucao/Fencesitter” would like to add you as a friend.

Message note: Selling out teammates, you taught me that. Learned and applied it myself. I sold you out just now.

Xiao Yan: “?”