Feigning Illness
Shanfu's military training strictly forbids bringing phones.
Yun Mi got her dormitory number and followed the crowd to the building. In her backpack was the new game console Chen Yiyang had bought her.
While handing over her phone to the dorm matron, Yun Mi saw a message from Wen Liangyu.
Ding Yuan asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
Aunt Wen asked if she wanted to go to Beijing.
The message was sent at three in the morning. Yun Mi's finger scrolled to the last line on the third page. Wen Liangyu said: Xiao Mi, usually stay a little farther away from Chen Yiyang.
Yun Mi looked outside the dormitory building. The boys were standing together, Chen Yiyang and Xie Yue. They seemed to be chatting about something. His face, illuminated by sunlight, held no trace of a smile.
Did he argue with Aunt Wen again?
Aunt Wen was such a good-tempered person. Why did Chen Yiyang always make her angry?
Chen Yiyang exchanged a few words with Xie Yue about the informatics competition. His gaze shifted slightly, passing through the drooping willow leaves, and caught Yun Mi glaring at him.
Xie Yue said, "What are you looking at? So absorbed?"
"Nothing."
"Isn't there a welcome party with the教官 tonight? Zhou Shihui plans to sing for Yun Mi. I know, he specially learned a Cantonese song, super emotional."
"Which one?"
"'I Like You' or something, 'in the sea breeze...'"
A passerby who was clearly an acquaintance had just bought a basin at the school convenience store. Hearing Xie Yue's singing, he kicked him and teased, "Brother Yue, stop singing, we're all friends here."
Xie Yue fell onto the grass, a knee full of mud. He got up and cursed, "You little brat, kicking your grandpa!"
Laughter erupted under the trees.
Chen Yiyang looked down at the search page, thinking: Cantonese songs, he could do that too.
Xie Yue kicked away those idiots, dusted himself off, and put his arm back on Chen Yiyang's shoulder. His eyes dropped and saw Chen Yiyang's phone browsing history, almost making him fall again.
Xie Yue was flustered. He didn't know how to speak. What the hell was #Is early love acceptable#? He asked, "This... what is this?"
Chen Yiyang ignored him, clearly knowing he was watching. After scanning, he continued typing: #Will dating my sister affect her studies#
"???"
Chen Yiyang typed again: #How to win over a girl who always says she hates you#
"???"
#Do I need to seduce when competing with other boys#
"!!!"
The boy's cold, bony fingers slowly typed the words "Shancheng Date Spots" on the 26-key keyboard. Xie Yue couldn't stand it. He was going crazy. He said, "Isn't this incest? Damn, won't your dad break your legs?"
Xie Yue put force into it. Chen Yiyang glanced at him, his gaze landing on his dirty hands. His thin eyelids drooped coldly as he said, "Keep it away."
Xie Yue pulled back his hand awkwardly and said, "You want to pursue Yun Mi?"
The calmer Chen Yiyang was, the more Xie Yue panicked. He was afraid others would know, and whispered his request, "Just keep your crush forever, alright. What are you pursuing? She's only sixteen! Didn't your mom say she's getting married on September 1st? What do you want to do? Destroy this family?"
Chen Yiyang didn't speak.
Xie Yue felt like he had become a nagging old woman. He cursed "F***" and demanded, "What about your mom?"
Chen Yiyang raised an eyebrow. "Don't get married."
"..."
Xie Yue suspected there was something wrong with Chen Yiyang's character.
He opened his mouth for a long time but couldn't utter a word.
The boy's jet-black hair drooped slightly. He glanced at Xie Yue with a playful look in his eyes, then looked at Yun Mi's dormitory building. He squinted slightly and said, "Let's go."
His tall figure mingled into the crowd heading to the playground.
...
"Yun Mi, stay away from Chen Yiyang."
During the evening assembly, the principal was speaking at the front.
Endless cicada noise crashed down overwhelmingly, only to be covered by the din of voices. Yun Mi searched for Chen Yiyang's figure in the crowd.
She heard Xie Yue speak from the neighboring class's line. A bit dull.
Aunt Wen had said the same thing: stay away from Chen Yiyang.
Yun Mi didn't understand: Why did he argue with someone again?
How bad was Chen Yiyang's temper?
Yun Mi replied, "Oh."