Chapter 8
Editor: Princess
Yu Pei was practically invisible in class in the past, with him always walking to and from school with his head down, alone. And even if someone at school happened to notice him, they probably only thought to themselves that it was the chubby guy from the third-year science class. Who would pay any special attention to him?
However things were different now. People were always interested in the dramatic transformation of someone who lost weight successfully, especially since everyone had heard that the chubby guy from Class One had turned into a super handsome guy after he slimmed down. So, many people wanted to check him out. And the moment they saw him, they realized that he really was good-looking. As a result, Yu Pei’s popularity skyrocketed, second only to the new transfer student, Luo Changzhou, the mixed-race academic star, in the eyes of the girls.
However this effect wasn’t very noticeable in class, after all, because their interactions with Yu Pei in the past hadn’t been very pleasant. It would have felt awkward if they suddenly tried to get close to him. However the students from other classes who didn’t know Yu Pei that well, didn’t have such concerns.
However, listening to Tan Qiming’s words, Yu Pei just thought he was joking. All he wanted to do now was to go home quickly to check to see if Luo Changzhou had replied to his message. So after saying a hurried goodbye to Tan Qiming, he slipped away.
And the first thing he did when he got into the car was to pull his phone out to check his inbox. However his inbox was still empty, and the last message from Luo Changzhou was still the simple “Good night” from the previous evening.
“Little Young Master, playing with your phone in the car is bad for your eyes.” Zhang Geng reminded Yu Pei when he saw him looking down at his phone over and over again.
“En, I’ll stop.” Yu Pei immediately locked the screen of his phone when he heard Zhang Geng’s words, however instead of putting it back in his bag, he held it in his hand, so that the moment Luo Changzhou replied, he’d see it right away.
Just as they were about to reach home, his phone finally vibrated, and without thinking, he grabbed his phone. But when he saw that it was a call, he froze. There was no way Luo Changzhou would call him.
It was Gu Zheng who was calling, however he was still happy. He answered and said, “Hello, Ah Zheng—”
“Ah Pei!” Gu Zheng on the other end was just as excited. “I bought so much candy, including the kind you like most and some new flavors you haven’t tried. I’ve sent them all to you, so make sure you remember to sign for them.”
Yu Pei loved candy, and although Gu Zheng had moved away, he still occasionally sent candy to Yu Pei, so the two of them still stayed in touch. Yu Qing even suspected that his little brother’s weight was due to all the candy he ate.
Fortunately, the doctor had said that it was because of the hormone treatments he had been receiving for his asthma, combined with his lack of exercise, that had caused his weight gain. Otherwise, Yu Qing wouldn’t have allowed Gu Zheng to send so much candy.
“That’s great. Ah Zheng, thank you.” Yu Pei smiled, his eyes curving into crescents.
Gu Zheng: “No need to thank me, but if you really want to thank me, just treat me to something good to eat when I transfer back.”
Of course, Yu Pei agreed. After chatting with Gu Zheng for a while longer, he hung up then checked his inbox again, however there was still no reply from Luo Changzhou.
*
During the big break in the afternoon, Yu Pei finally finished the small sketch of Luo Changzhou he’d been working on. He was an art student and had been learning to draw since childhood, so he had a solid foundation in drawing. This sketch had taken him almost an entire day to complete.
He popped a piece of candy into his mouth as he picked the completed sketch up and looked at it carefully.
He had drawn Luo Changzhou in profile, with him writing something, with deep-set eyes and a stern expression. The drawing was incredibly similar to the real Luo Changzhou, but it was a black-haired, black-eyed version of him.
However, as he looked at the sketch, Yu Pei, who usually had confidence in his drawing skills, suddenly felt that the drawing wasn’t quite right, because Luo Changzhou’s eyes were clearly blue, not black, and this version of Luo Changzhou with black eyes didn’t resemble him at all.
So he took a ballpoint pen from his pencil case and colored Luo Changzhou’s eyes blue, however this only made the sketch look even stranger.
Yu Pei wanted to throw the drawing away but couldn’t bear to part with it, so after thinking for a bit, he eventually decided to tuck the small portrait into the notebook that Luo Changzhou had given him.
That notebook was still unused, with the cover as pristine as ever. Yu Pei didn’t know what to write in it, because no matter what he wrote, it felt like a waste. After all, this was the first gift Luo Changzhou had given him!
—Yu Pei was someone who valued his friends a lot. Just like the metal candy tins Gu Zheng sent him—whenever he finished each one, he would store the tin away carefully, unable to bring himself to throw it out.
As the candy in his mouth dissolved, Yu Pei smacked his lips, then opened his backpack to get another piece. However just as he reached into the backpack, his phone, which was lying next to the candy tin, vibrated.
His eyes lit up immediately. He hoped it was a message from Luo Changzhou, however he was also worried that it might just be a service provider reminder about his bill or some promotional text about a new plan. He hadn’t felt such rollercoaster-like emotions in a long time. The feeling made his heart race, made his breathing quicken, and caused his hands tremble slightly as he held the phone. However the intense beating of his heart against his ribs reminded him clearly that he was still alive, that the candy in his mouth was sweet, and that the sunlight shining on him was warm.
So he picked his phone up and unlocked the screen. And there, in his inbox, was suddenly one new unread message. And the sender’s name was the one he had been waiting for all day: Luo Changzhou.
Luo Changzhou’s message read: [Yeah, I’m sick. I just woke up in the hospital.]
Yu Pei was first happy, then he started to worry. He typed out a response quickly and sent it: [I thought you didn’t want to talk to me anymore. What happened? Did you get sick from getting caught in the rain yesterday? Is it serious? Why are you in the hospital?]
After sending it, Yu Pei felt as if his tone was a bit off, as if he was pouting aggrievedly about being ignored. However since he didn’t socialize much and wasn’t sure how to navigate conversations with others, he didn’t dwell on it and just waited for Luo Changzhou’s reply anxiously.
When Luo Changzhou, who was on the other end saw the message from Yu Pei, he was stunned. He could almost picture the teenager on the other end frowning slightly. He had never expected his new desk mate to be so attached to him. Judging by the time the first message was sent, Yu Pei had probably texted him the moment he realized he wasn’t at school.
Luo Changzhou, who had been raised by his father to be independent and strong, had never been cared for like this before. From the goodnight texts to the constant concern, it was a new feeling for him, but not one he disliked.
After thinking about it for a while, he replied: [It wasn’t because of the rain last night. It’s because my mom… made me a bowl of soup.]
Then he got food poisoning.
Having been raised under the strict guidance of his father and older sister, Luo Changzhou hadn’t been knocked down by any storm, but he was taken out by a bowl of soup made by his mother, who didn’t know how to cook. He had spent the entire night vomiting and having diarrhea and was almost exhausted by the time he was rushed to the hospital for a stomach pump just before dawn. Then after all that, he developed a high fever and was forced to stay in the hospital for an IV.
[My mom doesn’t know how to cook. Usually, it’s either I or my dad who cook. But last night, my dad came home a bit late, and my mom, seeing that I had gotten caught in the rain, wanted to make me some hot soup, but…]
Luo Changzhou explained the reason why he was in the hospital to Yu Pei briefly.
Yu Pei immediately sent a few more concerned messages like [So pitiful! Rest well and take care]. Then as he looked at the messages they’d exchanged, the corners of his lips couldn’t help but curve upwards slowly.
He thought to himself, since Luo Changzhou was willing to talk to him this much, they should be considered friends now, right?
Ever since Gu Zheng transferred schools, Yu Pei hadn’t had anyone to talk to and chat with anymore. But now, he had finally made a new friend. Yu Pei was so happy that for a moment, he didn’t know what to type. However just as he finally pieced together a sentence, Luo Changzhou sent him another message: [You have class now, right? Let’s stop chatting for now. You should focus on class].
Yu Pei: “……”
Why was Luo Changzhou, even when he was sick, still worrying about class?
He really wanted to send a message telling Luo Changzhou that he could secretly use his phone during class to chat with him, but he didn’t dare. He understood that top students didn’t like people who didn’t pay attention in class. And so knowing this, even though his heart was itching with the urge, he didn’t dare continue texting with Luo Changzhou.
For the first time, Yu Pei finally understood the feeling his classmates always had when they sighed and complained about how the 25-minute long break between classes was way too short. He used to think 25 minutes was plenty long, enough to take a nap. But now, it felt extremely short, only enough time for him to eat one piece of candy. The piece of candy he had during break had completely melted into syrup, but the sweetness still lingered on his tongue, reappearing again and again. He thought to himself, the candies Gu Zheng sent him this time were especially delicious. He would definitely share the candy with Luo Changzhou when he came back to class tomorrow.
He propped his chin on his hand, staring at the blackboard and the teacher at the podium who was talking non-stop, but he didn’t absorb a single word. His head was filled with thoughts of Luo Changzhou.
Because of this sense of anticipation, the last class felt exceptionally long to Yu Pei. Finally, the bell rang, and he packed his bag up hurriedly and slipped away. Then the moment he got in the car, he sent Luo Changzhou a text: [Changzhou ;D, I’m out of school! Are you feeling better now?]
Yu Pei felt that he and Luo Changzhou could already be considered friends, and to keep addressing him by his full name seemed a little impolite, so he just left out his surname.
Luo Changzhou replied quickly: [I’m feeling much better now. I remember you take a car home, right?]
[En, I’m already sitting in the car.]
Yu Pei didn’t think much of why Luo Changzhou suddenly asked this question. He just thought he remembered when he greeted him from the car last time. However Luo Changzhou’s next message quickly made him understand the reason—
[Then, let’s talk again after you get home. It’s bad for your eyes to play on your phone in the car. Remember to eat dinner first when you get home.]
Yu Pei: “…”
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