The next morning, Xu Xingye arrived at school with two unmistakable dark circles beneath his eyes.
He had barely slept.
Now, on the way to his classroom, he radiated the exhaustion of someone repeatedly ground down by life.
As he passed the teaching building's entrance, the student on duty took one look and couldn't help asking, “Xu Xingye, were you mining coal last night?”
Xu Xingye adjusted his silver-rimmed glasses and replied calmly, “No. Just insomnia.”
“Insomnia can do that?”
“I've encountered some problems that aren't easy to explain.”
With that, he went around the student and hurried inside.
Today's plan was simple.
Don't look at Lu Siting. Don't approach Lu Siting. Don't talk to Lu Siting.
As long as he strictly followed those three rules, he could get through the day in peace.
At the entrance to Class Three, Year Two, Xu Xingye first scanned the room.
Sure enough, Lu Siting was already there.
He stood beside his seat with his uniform jacket open, revealing part of a black T-shirt. The obsidian stud in his left ear shifted faintly as he moved.
He looked as unapproachable as ever.
Xu Xingye immediately looked away and prepared to enter through the back door.
But he had barely taken a step when an arm stretched across his path.
Somehow, Lu Siting had already reached the doorway. His height and imposing presence blocked half the passage.
Xu Xingye stopped and looked up.
Frowning, Lu Siting looked as though he'd come expressly to cause trouble. “Why did you run off so fast yesterday?”
Xu Xingye didn't answer. He turned sideways to slip past.
Lu Siting shifted his arm, blocking him again.
“I'm asking you a question. Didn't you hear?”
Looking at the hand across his path, Xu Xingye had already begun silently reciting pi.
As long as he stayed outside one meter.
As long as the distance exceeded one meter.
As long as he couldn't hear that ridiculous voice.
Yet a second later, the familiar thoughts reached him with perfect clarity.
[Why does he look so pale?]
[Is he feeling sick?]
[Even his lips have no color. I want to hug him so much.]
Xu Xingye's toes slowly curled inside his shoes.
He'd only just arrived.
He hadn't even sat down, and Lu Siting was already on to hugging.
Outwardly, he was blocking the way like a thug collecting protection money. Inwardly, he was considering offering human heating services. How had someone like this survived to seventeen?
When Xu Xingye remained silent, Lu Siting frowned harder and unconsciously touched his earring with his left hand.
[Is he still mad at me?]
[I shouldn't have grabbed his bag yesterday.]
[But if he left, I couldn't even borrow his notes.]
[I should have been gentler. Asked whether he'd eaten, then whether he wanted to go home with me.]
Xu Xingye lifted his eyelids and looked at that icy face.
Gentler?
The way you were blocking the door already looked like preparation to stuff someone into a sack and carry him away.
Unaware that he was approaching dangerous-person status in the other's eyes, Lu Siting stared at Xu Xingye for several seconds, then asked quietly, “Didn't sleep well last night?”
Xu Xingye's heart tightened.
That, at least, was a normal sentence.
Then came Lu Siting's thoughts.
[Those circles are so dark. He definitely didn't sleep.]
[Was he thinking about me all night?]
[Am I already that important to him?]
[But why would thinking about me keep him awake?]
[Does he like me too and just feel too shy to admit it?]
Xu Xingye's vision darkened. He nearly reached for the wall.
He hadn't slept because Lu Siting's plans for their marital home had been playing on repeat in his brain.
What did that have to do with liking him?
Seeing his complexion worsen, Lu Siting maintained his impatient expression, though his voice noticeably softened. “Hey, bookworm. What's actually wrong?”
[He can barely stand.]
[He's gone even paler.]
[Does he have a fever?]
[Will he hit me if I hug him now?]
[Hug first. I'll take the punch.]
Xu Xingye's back instantly stiffened.
No.
He couldn't let this person get any closer.
He quickly clutched his stomach, bent over, and forced a pained expression onto his face.
Lu Siting stopped moving.
“What's wrong?”
Through gritted teeth, Xu Xingye said very quietly, “Stomachache.”
[A stomachache?]
[That bad?]
[Did he eat something off last night?]
[He's in so much pain. Why am I just standing here? Get him to the infirmary.]
Xu Xingye's temple twitched. He immediately added, “I'm going to the infirmary.”
Giving Lu Siting no chance to ask more, he pushed away the blocking arm and rushed out with his head down.
Lu Siting staggered a step aside.
Xu Xingye seized the opening, dashed from the classroom, and ran down the corridor.
Lu Siting's lowered voice soon came from behind. “Xu Xingye, slow down.”
[He's running so fast. Does his stomach really hurt?]
[No. I can't let him go alone.]
[There'll be other boys in the infirmary. What if someone takes advantage while he's sick?]
[Anyone touches my wife, and I'll make him run thirty laps of the field.]
Xu Xingye didn't slow. He sped up.
He wasn't going to the infirmary.
He was going to a refuge.
Unfortunately, the refuge wasn't far from the classroom, and Lu Siting's legs were considerably longer than his.
Just as Xu Xingye reached the infirmary, the footsteps behind him caught up.
He pushed open the door. The school doctor, sorting a medicine cabinet, looked up at the noise.
Pale-faced and clutching his stomach, Xu Xingye entered. “I don't feel well. Could I lie down for a while?”
Seeing that he really didn't look good, the doctor pointed toward the beds inside. “Lie down first. I'll take your temperature.”
“Thank you.”
Xu Xingye hurried to a bed, pulled back the curtain, and lay down.
He drew the blanket to his chest and closed his eyes, even softening his breathing.
As long as Lu Siting couldn't find him.
As long as he didn't come in.
As long as he could have ten quiet minutes.
The thought had barely formed when the infirmary door opened again.
Steady footsteps approached very quickly.
Xu Xingye's eyelid twitched. He already had a bad feeling.
Lu Siting reached the doctor in a few strides, looking as serious as though he'd come to handle a major incident.
The doctor looked at him, then toward the bed. “And you are?”
Without the slightest hesitation, Lu Siting pointed behind the curtain, his tone perfectly earnest.
“Doctor, I'm his family. I'm here to take care of him.”