This Really Looked Like a Couple Name, the Kind Where It’s Secretly Shameless.
The weekly test was nothing out of the ordinary for Fuzhong students, and after an entire semester, they were basically numb.
The day before the exam, each class began clearing their tables as per regulations. Class A students did not like stacking their books on the table, they usually just brought whatever they needed for the lessons that day. With the opening of their bags, their tables were basically clear. However, Class B was different.
God knows who started it, but Class B liked to display their books and learning materials for the entire semester upright on their desks; with the book standee by the side, it formed a natural barrier.
They did enjoy much convenience during ordinary times — they simply needed to bring a couple of papers back and forth to school, and even if they were sleeping away or misbehaving in class, they wouldn’t appear to be too obvious about it. However, they suffered greatly before the weekly exam, and had to carry the books stack by stack to the back of the class.
There were more girls in class B, and usually they could only ask the boys for help during times like this. “Who the girl invited to help her†and “Who did the boy volunteer to help†was never what it seemed, with many hidden agendas and feelings behind it.
It was the first time Sheng Wang was part of this entire process, and before he realised what was going on, he saw a boy walk out from the last row, lifting up a stack of books from a girl in the front row without a single word, and place it behind the classroom with a plonk.
The entire class was quiet for a few seconds before they exploded into chaos, slapping their tables and hooting. The boy then tried to act composed as he returned to his seat, but the red flush on his face betrayed him. The girl was even redder than he was.
Sheng Wang: “……â€
His phone was buzzing, there was a stampede of footsteps happening upstairs, ergo Class A just ended class.
Jiang Tian asked if he was done yet. He replied, saying soon.
Shop’s Anniversary Celebration: luckily Big Mouth Xu isn’t here
Shop’s Anniversary Celebration: otherwise he’ll have a 100% hit rate
Shop’s Anniversary Celebration: I haven’t even gotten all their names straight, but just by watching them carry their books alone, I already know all the couples in this class
Shop’s Anniversary Celebration: 100% sniped
Someone: ……
Someone: Class B’s homeroom teacher did say their entire class is all a little stupid
Shop’s Anniversary Celebration: Old Zhang said “our class is more simple†hello?
Just as he ridiculed them to Jiang Tian, Shi Yu — who was next to him — swaggered out. Not only did he help He Shi carry her books, he even helped to refill her water at the back of the class.
On the behalf of their relationship as dormmates, Sheng Wang added: still, I get it though. you definitely will only help whomever you like.
The moment he looked up after sending the message, four girls were pushing and nudging each other as they approached him in a group, asking, “Sheng Wang, can you help us carry our books for a bit?â€
Sheng Wang: “……â€
Shit, he spoke too soon.
Jiang Tian was heading downstairs with Gao Tianyang. After he went down two steps, he suddenly received a new message from a certain someone, with only three words in its contents: I like you.
Jiang Tian did not know what brand of madness did the young master opposite spiral into, and sent a question mark having absolutely no clue what was happening. In the end, what he got in return was an entire column of a tiny figure, in tears as they kneeled down.
“Hm?†Gao Tianyang’s pitch suddenly raised, making a questioning noise.
Jiang Tian turned to face him, only to see him frantically tearing his eyes away from his phone screen.
“I think I just saw something……†Gao Tianyang explained, wanting very much to stay alive, “Let me get this straight! I didn’t mean to peek, I merely accidentally saw what was on your screen while trying to say something to you. See, I turned myself in immediately.â€
“What did you see?†Jiang Tian lowered his hand, his thumb moving to turn the screen off. He realised belatedly that by doing so, it still seemed like he was trying to cover something up.
As expected, Gao Tianyang glanced at his dangling hand, and mischief was instantly written on his face. He checked the surroundings, and moved Jiang Tian to the corner of the stairs with an arm on Jiang Tian’s shoulder. He cleared his throat before teasing, “Tian-ge, did I just witness a confession from some girl?â€
Jiang Tian: “……â€
In that instant, Gao Tianyang could tell that his Tian-ge’s expression was extremely wooden — a trace of hesitance in his coldness, a trace of very complicated feelings in his hesitance.
He unilaterally asserted that as the shyness of an iceberg turned man, because after Jiang Tian numbly stared at him for a few seconds, he seriously admitted it with a “Mnâ€.
Actually, there was no way Jiang Tian could deny it anyway. After all, he, Gao Tianyang, had eyes of an eagle, and one look was enough to allow him to catch the main point, seeing that line of “I like youâ€.
He observed for a bit, and figured that Jiang Tian was in an okay mood. Therefore, he continued probing, foolhardy, “Will you usually respond to any ordinary person’s confession? Nah, for sure. But, you replied just now!â€
Jiang Tian continued looking like he didn’t know where to even start. “……So?â€
Gao Tianyang chickened out for half a second, and concluded with a shut of the eyes and a kick of the legs, “So, I think that girl has a chance.â€
Jiang Tian was momentarily silent after listening to him. He answered, “Okay.â€
Gao Tianyang was the epitome of shock. “You said okay??? YOU REALLY SAID OKAY???â€
He thought no matter if he was right or wrong, Jiang Tian would definitely deny it. He was already mentally prepared to be mercilessly mocked by stubborn words, but never did he ever expect for Jiang Tian to admit it!
After Jiang Tian said that, he went down the stairs by himself. Gao Tianyang was stunned stupid for a few seconds before he flew after him. The two arrived outside Class B together.
The two of them appeared here quite frequently, especially Jiang Tian. He always came to wait for Sheng Wang every lunch and dinner, every day.
Class B’s teachers loved to drag on their lessons, sometimes, they had to wait for several minutes at the back door. Despite the high rate they had to do so, the girls of Class B still stirred whenever they saw Jiang Tian coming over.
Currently, there were no teachers in Class B’s classroom, everyone was going back and forth to carry their books. The moment commotion stirred, Jiang Tian discovered that a particular someone’s seat was empty. He scanned around the classroom, and finally saw a Sheng Wang carrying books along the passageway.
He appeared to be scholarly, handsome, and not buff at all. His strength however was unexpectedly good. He managed to carry such a tall stack of books with perfect stability, it was the girl by the side who kept going on instead, “Is it really heavy? Do you want to rest?â€
“It’s alright, I’m fine.†Sheng Wang bent over and settled that stack of books at the back of the classroom. He straightened up and patted away the dust on his hand, asking, “Is there anything else?â€
“Nope, no more. I can carry the rest myself, thank you so much!†The girl pointed outside the window, “Jiang Tian’s here.â€
Just after she spoke, the girl felt a gust of wind whoosh past her. The next second, Sheng Wang had already strided to the window. He held onto the window frame as he said to the person outside, “A few girls honestly couldn’t carry their books, and asked me if I could help them. Hold on a bit, I’ll be done soon.â€
Jiang Tian understood at last what brand of madness did Sheng Wang spiral into with the “I like you†just now. What probably happened was that the moment he just said “you definitely will only help whomever you likeâ€, he was surrounded by girls.
He recalled that column of a tiny figure kneeling down and crying, and felt a little like laughing. Therefore, he asked Sheng Wang, “How many stacks are there left?â€
“Two,†Sheng Wang said.
Jiang Tian nodded. He glanced at the state of chaos Class B was in where anyone was free to go in and out, and directly entered the classroom via the open back door.
“What are you doing?†Sheng Wang was confused.
Jiang Tian rolled his sleeves up, revealing his forearm. He said without even looking up, “Helping you.â€
When they left the classroom, the girl who was helped by Jiang Tian was still a little dazed. After all, she did not expect a good thing like “buy one get one free†to apply to this too.
Sheng Wang bought three bottles of drinks at the vending machine at the bottom of the building, and gave the other two people a bottle each.
“What’s on Old Gao’s mind?†He twisted the cap open, and then leaned away, avoiding the bottle. The thin white foam instantly gathered at the mouth with a sizzle, and slowly seeped outside along the gap, leaving sparse dots on the ground.
Gao Tianyang snuck a look at Jiang Tian, indicating with his gaze: Am I allowed to say anything?
Funnily enough, Jiang Tian was rather direct. “Did I order a gag order?â€
“Imma say it then.†Gao Tianyang deliberated, and turned to say to Sheng Wang, “I suspect my Tian-ge has been tempted by love.â€
Sheng Wang did not control his strength well, and accidentally uncapped all the way — a portion of the drink instantly shot out just like that.
Gao Tianyang only avoided the tragedy of getting his pants drenched by hurriedly retreating two steps back. “What the fuck, Sheng-ge, did you just sneak attack me?â€
“My hand slipped.†Sheng Wang rubbed his thumb, stained by the drink, and borrowed a tissue from a passing by student.
He covered the mouth of the drink as he asked Gao Tianyang, “What did you just say?â€
“I said—†Gao Tianyang tried to set it up, “Whatever, I’ll put it this way. Just now, when we were heading down to Class B, I spotted someone confessing to Tian-ge.â€
“Confessing?â€
“Yeah, saying ‘I like you’ or something.†Gao Tianyang’s tone was lighthearted teasing, and next that tone instantly shifted into regret. “Unfortunately, Tian-ge’s thumb happened to be in the way, I didn’t manage to see that girl’s profile picture.â€
“You didn’t see?†Sheng Wang let out an “oh†enigmatically.
They stood at both sides of Gao Tianyang respectively, and met each other’s eyes across Gao Tianyang. He lifted his head and chugged a mouthful of drink.
Gao Tianyang was completely unaware of that at all, he attempted to suss out more information from Jiang Tian, looking to his right. “Therefore, Tian-ge.â€
“Mn,†Jiang Tian grunted.
“Do we know that girl?†Gao Tianyang asked.
Jiang Tian: “I don’t know.â€
“You don’t know?†Gao Tianyang made eye contact with Sheng Wang, attempting to find a similar response in his ally. Sadly, he only saw an indifference towards gossiping in his gaze.
“That means that maybe we know, and maybe we don’t?†Gao Tianyang realised. “I know it, you definitely met during the training camp.â€
This time round Jiang Tian replied with a “Mnâ€.
Seeing that Jiang Tian actually answered, Gao Tianyang was instantly filled with vigour.
“Eh, Tian-ge,†he nudged Jiang Tian’s shoulder, asking, “is she pretty?â€
Jiang Tian’s gaze travelled from god knows where, and then calmly took a sip of his drink with his eyes lowered, replying with “Mnâ€.
Perhaps he was just seeing things, but Gao Tianyang kept feeling like the corner of his mouth twitched before he went “Mn†— maybe he was laughing or something. But either way, none of that mattered at all.
“If Tian-ge said that she’s pretty, then she has to be insanely pretty!†Gao Tianyang turned and immediately hooked an arm around Sheng Wang, saying, “Sheng Wang, was there anyone who’s insanely beautiful in the camp?â€
“I don’t know about pretty,†Sheng Wang dug out his phone with his head lowered, “I do know about insane though.â€
“Who?†Gao Tianyang’s attention was attracted just like that.
“Guess.â€
“……â€
“You can continue gossiping, I need to send a message,†Sheng Wang said.
Gao Tianyang no longer bothered him after receiving the imperial edict, and turned to continue trying to wrangle more information out of Jiang Tian.
Sheng Wang’s thumb speedily flew, Jiang Tian’s phone kept buzzing in his pocket. However, in lieu of how Gao Tianyang was quite excited, he didn’t check at all.
Only when they finished their lunch and went back to class for the noon break, then he dug his phone out for a look. He saw a certain someone first demandingly ask him: PRETTY????
And then he spammed more than 10 memes, each of them waving long blades, with every hit causing bloodshed. Some shish-kebabed three to four people at once, some skewered through seven to eight. How fearsome.
Just that alone wasn’t enough, he even changed his profile picture to a giant Wangzai, rolling his eyes. The picture was zoomed in that there was only the eye-rolling, his personal nickname became: You say that again.
Jiang Tian spent merely 25 minutes to complete the 30 minutes math practice without any hurrying. In the remaining five minutes, he spent four and a half on watching someone kicking up a fuss and asking for a fight, and then in the last 30 seconds, he changed his own WeChat personal nickname too.
As the saying goes, people in love would turn stupid in certain occasions, and even subconsciously become more and more similar to the other person. For example, their catchphrases. Or, certain habits too.
Jiang Tian had never related so much.
While thinking that this was so childish, he changed the personal nickname — unchanged ever since he registered for WeChat — into this: Ok
A mere few minutes later, Sheng Wang already discovered this change.
You say that again: ?
Ok: .
They really looked like they have matching couple names, the kind where it’s secretly shameless, completely subtle and yet somehow as clear as day too too.
……They are even quite mocking.
As Sheng Wang felt pleased, he also wanted to challenge his Ge to a fight.
TO BE CONTINUED.
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