A Certain Someone ( The On1y One ) Chapter 061 – Gift

“Can You Come Back?”

Old Man Ding had an elderly phone, the font size as gigantic as bronze bells. Apparently, Jiang Tian wanted to buy him a normal smartphone back then, and tried to patiently convince him that he will teach him how to use it. However, the old man refused no matter what, claiming that he’s old and couldn’t see clearly, there was no way he could read a single word on the screen of a smartphone.

The old man was a force to reckon with, and threatened that he would sell the smartphone as soon as humanly possible. He was genuinely capable of doing such a thing, therefore Jiang Tian was unable to change his mind otherwise, and could only buy him an elderly phone. The old man adored what kids wouldn’t spare a second look at, and brought the phone with him everywhere he went.

Jiang Tian was a gauche person, so the old man loved to tease him especially much. He would often brandish the phone in front of other people, saying that it’s Xiao-Tian who bought it for him etc etc. Naturally, he did show off to Sheng Wang too. When that happened, Jiang Tian was eating his food next to him, and the more he ate the more his expression turned deadpan. In the end, he dumped a giant chicken drumstick in the old man’s bowl, saying, “Don’t talk while eating.”
The old man wanted to smack him with his chopsticks, saying that Jiang Tian is a cheeky brat with a bad temper. Sheng Wang nearly perished from laughter.

One could assign contact numbers as kin on the elderly phone, it was convenient and also for the case of emergency. Jiang Tian took up the number 1 spot, and the old man said this is enough. Later, Jiang Tian notified Xi Le, and added Boss Zhao in too. When Sheng Wang came, he scooted over a little, and so Sheng Wang took up spot number 2 and Boss Zhao ended up with spot number 3.

However, under normal circumstances, Jiang Tian was the only one Old Man Ding would call. Therefore, when Sheng Wang received the call he was caught by surprise.

The old man said, “Ji Huanyu is here to be a menace again. Bring Xiao-Tian to eat elsewhere, don’t let him come here.”

Now that was quite the strange statement, Sheng Wang was a little confused by what he was hearing. “Grandpa, you’re trying to say that don’t let him know Ji Huanyu is there?”
“You don’t say? If not, I would have called him straight away,” the old man said, exasperated.

It was strikingly obvious whenever Old Man Ding lied through the phone: scared of more questions, his tone would deliberately sound harsher, and hang up straight away after a few curt lines, not giving the person the chance to speak.
Even Sheng Wang knew how to distinguish his words, not to mention Jiang Tian.

Sheng Wang let out an “oh”.
The old man continued, “I’m afraid the kid will get into a bad mood after hearing Ji Huanyu’s name.”

That was indeed true; Sheng Wang had witnessed Jiang Tian’s change of mood before. Back then, all it took was a mention from Jiang Ou and his mood visibly—dramatically—changed for the worse.

That was kind of strange, Sheng Wang had never fingered out why.
He couldn’t resist but ask, “Grandpa, why is Jiang Tian so bothered by him?”
Old Man Ding did not get what he was saying at the start. He said, as a matter of factly, “Ji Huanyu is no good at all, that’s why. Is there any difference to having this thing that is his father around at all? Quite normal to be annoyed by him, ain’t it.”

“No, I do get it.” Sheng Wang deliberated, “But if we’re talking about not taking care of him enough, well, when I recall what you’ve said, actually……”
Actually, Jiang Ou and Ji Huanyu were basically of the same stripe. They were both negligent in their care towards Jiang Tian when he was young. The difference was that Jiang Ou had no other choice, while Ji Huanyu was simply being himself.
Yet, Jiang Tian’s attitude was as different as day and night. Though he may not be as close and intimate like mother and son towards Jiang Ou, he was protective of her at the very least. He cared about her, and could not bring himself to be harsh with her. On the contrary, he was extremely repulsed by Ji Huanyu, to the point that he refused to spare him even a look, let alone talking to him at all.

When he heard Old Man Ding talk about Jiang Tian’s childhood, Sheng Wang did suspect whether Ji Huanyu hit Jiang Tian before. Later on, he rejected that theory, as Jiang Tian was completely unafraid of Ji Huanyu at all.

When the father and son were around each other, it was Ji Huanyu who was the one treading carefully around him. That kind of cautiousness wasn’t necessarily surface level, but rather…… it was more like he was afraid that any carelessly spoken word would touch Jiang Tian’s sore spot. Jiang Tian was the one who harboured zero fear towards him, not even a single trace. There was only vexation.
To put it in a more serious term, Jiang Tian despised him.

Old Man Ding could not clarify while being all the way on the other side of the phone. After all, he did not live with the Jiangs in those years, he would not know the cause of the animosity between the father and son. He was the same as Sheng Wang, he could only guess.
But it’s so hard to guess with Jiang Tian……
Sheng Wang thought.

“Then, why is he at your place?” Sheng Wang asked.
Old Man Ding scoffed, “What else? He found out that Xiao-Tian doesn’t look down on an old man like me, and is close to me too. He’s trying to make me a middleman, I suppose. Maybe he thought that I’ve lost my marbles with my age, that he could treat me like a moron. As if he only needs to pose around a bit, and I’ll think he’s a good boy again. Or maybe he thought that after he showed a little filial respect to me here and there, Xiao-Tian wouldn’t be so bothered by him.”
Sheng Wang felt that it was rather funny: an actual flesh and blood father, somehow ended up in a situation where he needed to show filial piety to his old neighbour in order to win some affection in his son’s eyes. He supposed that that was a talent too.

“What is he trying to get you to be a middleman for?”
“One for reconciliation.” Old Man Ding sighed, “A 40+ years old man who has been playing around for so many years, suddenly recalled that he still has a son out there, probably wants to resolve whatever issue they have between them.”
“Wasn’t he previously overseas?” Sheng Wang said.

“Yes, I’ve heard his classmate or friend has gotten some major illness, cancer or something else. He probably started panicking the more he thought about it. Kid, this is human nature, everyone becomes like this at this age, everyone tends to overthink. When you’re young, you’re whatever this, whatever that, and now you start to regret. When you look at other people falling sick, you would think: what if you become like this one day, and not have a single loved one around you? That would be quite upsetting too.”

But, when he was young, Jiang Tian didn’t have his loved ones around him too.
Sheng Wang internally retorted.

Old Man Ding smacked his lips, and grumbled resentfully, “Even if you get a cat or a dog, you still have to stay around it, creating bonds or something. Look at him, it’s been so many years, does he know how much Xiao-Tian cannot stand him? Daydreaming about some coaxing and cajoling to mend their relationship, even wanting to bring him overseas. Ha—”
The old man coldly hmmphed, and said, “I’m the first one to object!”

Until he hung up on the phone, all Sheng Wang’s head was filled with was “even wanting to bring him overseas”. Despite knowing that Jiang Tian did not plan to pay any heed to Ji Huanyu at all, he was still a little bothered.
Tonight’s dinner was eaten at the cafeteria.
Blessings to Gao Tianyang, when this knucklehead entered the cafeteria, due to his overly uninhibited footsteps, he accidentally slipped on the cleaning rag that the cafeteria lady soaked in soap, and fell ass-down onto the ground, even slipping several metres on the floor.
The classmates following behind him all heaved with laughter.

Sheng Wang was originally still a little down, but with that even he couldn’t resist anymore, and was doubled over in laughter for a while before he realised that he was resting on Jiang Tian’s shoulder out of habit again, and Jiang Tian was laughing too.

Gao Tianyang rolled his eyes while he still sat on the ground, and stuck his hand out. “The hell you’re laughing at? Can someone please help me up already? To think I’ve provided a bit of momentary happiness for your stressful lives, how unappreciative of you!”
Song Sirui could barely stand up straight from laughing, Sheng Wang went over to lend a helping hand. Everyone helped him up in a scramble of limbs.

“Eh, are my pants wet?” Gao Tianyang tried to look behind him.
“It’s fine, there isn’t that much piss,” Song Sirui said.
“Fuck you, I’ll pull your pants down and change into them, don’t you test me,” Gao Tianyang angered.
“I won’t, you can’t fit in anyway.”
“Fu—”
Gao Tianyang was ridiculously disgruntled, and sat down with everyone else while still covering his behind. He said, “Sheng-ge, I know you are a good person, I want to eat the sweet and sour ribs, curry briskets and spicy chicken from the number 8 window, can you help me get it? If I don’t manage to eat it, I will die from pain right here today.”
“???”
Sheng Wang turned and saw the long queue that had already made two turns and snaked all the way to the cafeteria’s entrance, and asked incredulously, “Why do I like you so much?”
Gao Tianyang blew a kiss at him, “I’m enchanting, that’s why.”

Right after he spoke, the school card in his hand was taken away by someone.
Jiang Tian held the card between his fingers, and waved it at him, calmly speaking, “I’m buying. What do you want to eat, say that again.”
Gao Tianyang: “……”

He said, “I want the bok choy, steamed egg and ribs from the number 3 window.”
Jiang Tian said, “Okay, wait.”
Everyone heaved from laughter again.

Other than the number 8 window, the most popular one, there were actually quite a few people at the other windows too. Jiang Tian and Sheng Wang stood at the end of the queue for the number 3 window, Song Sirui and the rest also followed them as they joked and giggled.
The queue wasn’t crowded, but Sheng Wang still acutely felt the presence behind him. Sheng Wang mindlessly fanned himself as he pinched the school card by its corner, and suddenly heard Jiang Tian ask, “Are you that warm?”
“……”
You’re so good at making conversation.
Sheng Wang paused, and stuffed his card into the pocket. A certain someone’s presence became stronger than ever.

“Is the teaching okay?” Jiang Tian’s deep voice rumbled next to his ears again; it was composed, not as sharp and cutting like the time at Wu Tong Wai.
“Not bad,” Sheng Wang answered.
After he spoke, he realised that the answer was a little too awkward, and added, “It’s a little simple, but it’s not bad.”
Several moments later, he finally heard Jiang Tian reply, “Mn.”

Time flew by in a meal, Gao Tianyang and the rest belonged to the food inhaling, and no matter how cultured Sheng Wang was, he wouldn’t take too long either.
They went back to Mingli Block, and went their separate ways throughout three floors. When Sheng Wang entered Class B, he felt his heart slowly sink down again, like a hot air balloon that reached the end of its journey.
Only at this time, then did he realise how happy he was just now.

The happiness was only ever so momentary, then he had to spend the entire night self-study, or even longer to get himself to calm down.
Five hours for five minutes, an entire day for a single hour. Every day after that was the same process, looping endlessly.

Without anyone noticing, the time he took to eat became shorter and shorter, and the time he went back to the dorms after night self-study became later and later.
Out of the entire level, Class A was the only one with special privileges, they got to stay in the classroom for night self-study. Every other student in the level had to go to the lecture theatre.
At the start, when Sheng Wang left with his bag in tow, more than half of the people in class were still packing up. The second day, it became less than half. Much later, there was barely anyone. In the end, he was the only one left.

When he went back to the dorm, it usually was cutting close to lights out. They barely had time to exchange a few words before silence settled in the dorm with the sound of the lights out signal.
He would close his eyes, listen to the movement from the bed below his, toss and turn a bit, and fall asleep just like that.

No matter how he told himself that he wasn’t giving Jiang Tian the cold shoulder or distancing himself, that he was merely going through some inner conflict for the time being……
……this was still a course of events basically doomed to happen. No matter how much he wanted to deny it, he and Jiang Tian were still inevitably embarking on two different paths.

The weekly test for this week was temporarily cancelled due to the city holding an event for appreciation of great teachers. A few classes from year two were selected for being recorded over the weekend, while the other classes held regular self-study.

Sheng Wang took out an entire question bank as usual, and went through it the moment he opened his eyes until night. When he walked into the lecture theatre with a new book of English Olympiad questions, Shi Yu finally couldn’t resist anymore and said, “The hell, this has to be the third book already?”
“What third book?” Sheng Wang sat in the corner at the back, and said as he took some books out.

“I’ve watched you finish going through two books of Olympiad question banks that are literally this thick. This is the third book already, aren’t you tired?” Shi Yu got a headache from just looking at it.
Sheng Wang, however, was stunned and said, “It is?”
“Don’t you know how many questions you did yourself?”
“I didn’t really notice.”

He didn’t stop at just not noticing, he didn’t bother to be selective with the quality of the question bank at all. As long as there was something to fill up his spare time; the busier he was the better.

The corner of Shi Yu’s mouth twitched, and he flashed a thumbs up at him. Sheng Wang was really downright terrifying of late, he did not have the audacity to be on WeChat while he sat beside him, and inexplicably ended up doing questions with him for the past few days too.
It was scary now that he thought about it: he was done with half a book, he had never been this hardworking for his entire life up till this point.
“If the weekly test wasn’t cancelled, I think I could jump up a few places this time,” he said, half humble and half smug. Unfortunately, he did not receive a reply.
Sheng Wang had already stuffed in his earpiece and began studying.

He watched him for a while, and felt that the other person was in a strange state: like he was focusing particularly hard, but his mind seemingly elsewhere too.

……
The bell signalling the end of night self-study rang. Both Shi Yu and Qiu Wenbin had packed their bags. They were already used to Sheng Wang’s late return, and after waving him goodbye, they went back to the dorm.
The giant lecture theatre slowly became empty again.

The song happened to shuffle to quite an old English song, the hoarse voice of the singer was low but gentle. Sheng Wang stilled, and recalled that this song was acquired from Jiang Tian’s playlist.
Perhaps it was just an unfortunate coincidence, that every time the phone shuffled to his song, it was day; the surrounding was chaotic and lively, causing it to seem overly low spirited and quiet. It was only at this moment then he realised that the song was honestly really good.

Sheng Wang sat for a while, and busied himself with writing a few nouns down. In the end, he stopped writing. The sound of human voice suddenly came by the window, and two boys passed by with a basketball. As they tried to snatch the basketball from each other, the sound of the basketball hitting the ground echoed along the corridor.
A teacher who happened to pass by roared at them, and the two obediently fled with the basketball in end. Their laughter could be heard even from a distance.

Sheng Wang looked away, and suddenly plucked out his earpiece, hurriedly keeping his pencil case and books. He did not know what was up with him either, all he knew that was in this instant, he was struck by the desire to go back.
Therefore, he slung his back across his shoulder, and ran towards the dormitory block in large strides.

When Sheng Wang ran up to the 6th floor, it was 10.45pm, much earlier than the previous few days. When he opened the door, he was met with the astonished looks on his dormmates’ faces.
Qiu Wenbin asked in confusion, “Are you okay, Sheng-ge? Why the rush?”
Shi Yu said, “So early for today?”

Sheng Wang, however, did not reply to a single question. His eyes scanned across that lower bunk, the study table, and even the sink and the bathroom, but he did not see any trace of the other person at all.
He caught his breath as he supported himself against the door. He placed his bag on the table next, and pretended to be asking casually, “Where’s Jiang Tian?”

“He isn’t back yet,” Qiu Wenbin said, “doesn’t he usually come back at nearly 11?”
Sheng Wang was stupefied.
Qiu Wenbin then realised what was happening, and said, “Oh, yeah right, you’re usually a couple of minutes later than him. It’s normal that you wouldn’t know.”

In that moment, Sheng Wang found it difficult to put what he was feeling into words. He was dazed for a few seconds, and felt as though his heart was stabbed by something, both a gentle poke and a heavy slam.
From a certain day onwards, he really did lose track of Jiang Tian’s schedule.

“Why……” Due to the exertion from running, his voice was a little parched and hoarse. He paused for a while before he said, “Why is he coming back this late too, studying hard?”
“I don’t know, I think it’s for the competition or something?” Qiu Wenbin guilessly said, “I’ve seen him copying things recently, I think it’s some notes and questions.”
Sheng Wang nodded.

He stood by the table for a while, and felt a little insipid. After walking for a couple of rounds, he grabbed his collar as he said, “I’m going out to the balcony for air, the run back is overheating me like crazy.”
“Okay,” Qiu Wenbin said, “watch the time then, Sheng-ge. It’ll be lights out soon.”
“Got it.”
There was an outdoor faucet at the balcony, it could be used for washing of giant articles of clothing and blankets. Some dorms would also take water from there in order to mop the floor.
Sheng Wang closed the balcony door and fanned himself. He then sat down at the edge of the basin area, and stared at the ground with his hands propped against the white porcelain surface.
The running took too much out of him, he needed to rest. He needed to catch his breath.

Ages later, he heard muffled voices in the dorm. Yet another moment later, the balcony door opened with a click; someone came in.

Sheng Wang’s eyes remained on the ground. He knew who it was, but he couldn’t muster the energy to smile. He was feeling kind of upset.
There definitely weren’t any reasons at all.

Jiang Tian didn’t ask if he was okay, neither did he ask why he was sitting there.
The balcony was very quiet; he merely stood before Sheng Wang, and was probably looking at him with his eyes lowered the same way he was before too.

Quite a while later, Sheng Wang pursed his lips, moulded his face into an appropriate expression, looked up and attempted to joke, “Hey I’m getting some air out here, why are you in my way?”
After he spoke, he spotted a thick leather bound notebook in Jiang Tian’s hand instead.

“I’ve been in your way for a while now.” As Jiang Tian spoke, he placed the notebook by his hand, his finger lightly tapped on the cover. “It’s for you.”
“What’s this?” Sheng Wang was stunned. He flipped through a couple of pages after taking the book, and was starting to be unable to flip through anymore.

He had seen something like this before: when his ankle was sprained and he rotted away at home from sheer boredom, Jiang Tian went through several different books, and compiled a bunch of interesting questions for him.

That item was like this too, it was labelled with the name of the book, the page and question number. It clearly stated what made the question special, and why it was selected for a look through.

However, this was slightly different this time: the book before him was more precise than before. He didn’t need to go search it up himself, all those questions were cut out from their respective books, neatly pasted inside the notebook one by one. They were separated by subjects and types, the unique points as well as beneficial points were labelled at the side too.
At the later half of the book, the corresponding answers and solutions to the questions were written down too. Every single line matched.

Jiang Tian said, “You’ve mentioned the teachers weren’t as in depth. With these, it should be enough.”

The questions were all individually handpicked, question by question. They consisted of all mathematics, chemistry and physics. If Jiang Tian could understand a topic to a certain level, Sheng Wang could manage it too. Perhaps, this could be counted as a simple and crude gift.

He wouldn’t take anything from other people, he only knew how to give. All he knew was to search and carve from within himself, and extract whatever he could, giving all of them to people he cared about.

Sheng Wang said he flunked his exam, so he will pull him back up. Sheng Wang said the teachers weren’t as in depth, so he will make up for it.
This was the most practical thing he could think of.

Therefore……
Jiang Tian’s eyes were on him as he asked, “Can you come back?”

TO BE CONTINUED.