The Pink Stationery

After the monthly exam results were released, Tian Hongjun called the underperforming students into his office one by one for a talk.

When Wang Cheng returned, he wasn’t dejected like the others. Instead, he was mysteriously excited. He propped his head on his hand, smiling widely at Shi Sui in the back row.

Being stared at like that, Shi Sui found even his game of Anipop unappealing.

He pulled off one earbud and looked up. “What, did he scold you into idiocy?”

“Nope,” Wang Cheng chuckled. “Old Tian said if my grades stay this trashy, I’ll have no choice but to go home and farm the fields with you after graduation.”

Shi Sui put his earbud back in. “Farm by yourself. I’m not interested.”

“How could I take you to the fields?” Wang Cheng draped an arm around his shoulder like a brother. “I’ve already thought it out. After graduation, let’s start a business together.”

“There are plenty of snacks in South Lane, but not a single decent jianbing guozi stall.” Wang Cheng patted his chest. “We’ll set up a stall. You fry them, I’ll hawk them. Guaranteed we’ll strike it rich.”

Shi Sui: “…” “Get lost.”

Just as Wang Cheng was about to lobby his future business partner further, his seatmate, the Class Monitor, returned. Wang Cheng had to pull his legs in to let him pass. His movements were unusually cautious.

“Monitor, what did Old Tian say to you?”

The Class Monitor’s name was Qi Sizheng. After sitting down, he didn’t answer Wang Cheng. Instead, he reached into Wang Cheng’s desk and pulled out a stack of Raccoon instant noodles.

“Confiscated.” Qi Sizheng stuffed the noodles into his own bag and zipped it tight. “The teacher told me to supervise your studies. From now on, if you sneak food in class, I’m telling him directly.”

Wang Cheng was dumbstruck. “Wait, you actually agreed to that?” Tian Hongjun had indeed told him to learn from the monitor, but he thought Qi Sizheng would surely refuse.

“What’s so strange about it?” Qi Sizheng glanced toward the back. “Lu Huaizhi and the others are doing the same.”

“Holy sh*t!” Wang Cheng’s attention shifted instantly. “Shi Sui, did you really get the Top Student to tutor you?”

He thought Shi Sui’s stubborn mouth would never have opened to ask.

“Mhm.” Shi Sui felt a bit awkward, swiping aimlessly at his screen, though he maintained a cool exterior. “Because I don’t want to sell jianbing guozi with you.”

As he spoke, he caught Lu Huaizhi in his peripheral vision.

Lu Huaizhi was bent over a problem. Perhaps it was difficult, as his brow was slightly furrowed, and he was constantly calculating on scratch paper. Shi Sui could faintly hear the scritch-scratch of the pen.

Just as he was about to look away, Lu Huaizhi stopped writing and tilted his head. “What is it?”

Wang Cheng answered for him: “Top Student, the monitor just said you’re tutoring Shi Sui!”

“But aren’t you a bit too focused on your work? We were talking so loudly and you didn’t hear a thing, yet the moment Shi Sui looks at you, you snap back to reality?”

Lu Huaizhi put down his pen and rubbed his wrist. “Sorry, this problem is a bit complex.”

Qi Sizheng also turned around, asking Lu Huaizhi, “Why did you agree to tutor Shi Sui?”

They were in Grade 11 now, approaching the general review phase. The workload was heavy. He couldn’t understand why the grade’s top student would bother with the person in last place.

Qi Sizheng only agreed to help Wang Cheng out of a sense of duty as Class Monitor. He couldn’t figure out Lu Huaizhi’s motive.

Furthermore…

Qi Sizheng glanced covertly at Shi Sui. Shi Sui was much harder to get along with than Wang Cheng.

Sensing the gaze, Shi Sui looked back coldly, but only for a second before his vision was occupied by a sheet of scratch paper covered in writing.

Lu Huaizhi handed the paper to Shi Sui. “This is a problem I wrote based on the physics questions we went over yesterday. It’s slightly harder. Ask me if you get stuck.”

“Not looking.” Shi Sui lowered his head, continuing his game.

Lu Huaizhi didn’t push. He simply placed the paper on Shi Sui’s desk.

Qi Sizheng finally recovered from Shi Sui’s cold stare. Realizing he had been nervously holding his breath, he let out a long exhale.

“I didn’t agree to tutor Shi Sui,” Lu Huaizhi said suddenly.

Qi Sizheng froze, realizing a beat late that Lu Huaizhi was answering his earlier question.

“I’m the one who asked to tutor him.”

After saying that, Lu Huaizhi ignored Qi Sizheng’s reaction and picked up his pen to write more problems for Shi Sui.

Qi Sizheng’s expression was complicated. He turned back only to find Wang Cheng sneakily trying to steal noodles back from his bag. Seeing the monitor looking, Wang Cheng’s hand moved like a blur, snatching a pack and dumping the dry noodles into his mouth.

He looked at Qi Sizheng smugly, his expression clearly saying: [What are you gonna do about it?].

Then, inevitably, Wang Cheng choked, coughing up a spray of noodle crumbs all over the desk.

Qi Sizheng stared at the soggy noodles on his desk, his expression pained. What kind of creature was he sitting next to?

After school, the two rows of seats by the window remained occupied.

Qi Sizheng tossed a copy of the Periodic Table to Wang Cheng, telling him he couldn’t leave until he memorized it.

Lu Huaizhi, meanwhile, gave Shi Sui a small stack of physics problems to consolidate yesterday’s knowledge.

Wang Cheng wailed, “You might as well kill me!”

Qi Sizheng fished out a pack of Raccoon noodles that Wang Cheng had hidden in his desk and waved it. “Finish the list and it’s yours.”

Wang Cheng, who had been craving them all day, didn’t last a second before lowering his head in “humiliation.”

Shi Sui looked at the stack of papers and refused immediately. “Too many.” This stack was larger than the actual homework assigned by the teachers!

It was ridiculous.

“Do as many as you can.” Lu Huaizhi didn’t force it. He glanced at the noodles on the front desk, thought for a moment, and pulled a lollipop from his drawer, placing it on the papers. “Did you finish yesterday’s?”

“Threw it away,” Shi Sui said. “You think I’m like Wang Cheng?” Bending over for a lollipop.

Lu Huaizhi paused. “If you don’t want it, I’ll use it to tie something then.”

As he moved to take the candy back, Shi Sui was faster. He snatched the lollipop away, hissing, “Is there no end to this?”

He knew exactly what Lu Huaizhi meant by “something.”

“Are you really not ashamed of sending something with only three words in it?”

Shi Sui felt he had found a weak point to counterattack. “You can write pages for an essay, but your love letter is only three words. Are you capable or not, Lu Huaizhi?”

His tone was mocking. He looked up, expecting to see Lu Huaizhi flustered or annoyed.

Instead, Lu Huaizhi’s gaze swept over his face. He said softly, “So you read it?”

Shi Sui: “…”

“I thought you would have thrown it out directly.” There was a hint of a smile in Lu Huaizhi’s voice. “Next time, I’ll be sure to fill the whole page.”

Shi Sui felt like he was about to snap the lollipop in his hand. In his mind, he was imagining it was Lu Huaizhi’s neck.

“What are you two whispering about?” Wang Cheng popped his head over at some point. “Shi Sui, why are your ears red?”

“Bitten by a mosquito again?”

Wang Cheng looked around. “I don’t even hear any mosquitoes.”

“It flew away.” Shi Sui ground his teeth, giving Lu Huaizhi a warning look. “If it dares come back, I’ll slap it to death.”

“Why does it sound like the one you want to slap is the Top Student?” Wang Cheng tsked. “It’s not his fault your ears are like that. Don’t go taking it out on him!”

Shi Sui: “…” For the first time, he considered whether he should break off his friendship with Wang Cheng.

Lu Huaizhi, looking perfectly normal, straightened the papers on Shi Sui’s desk and stood up. “I’m going to the school gate to get a package. Look at the problems.”

He had been tutoring Shi Sui too late yesterday, so his delivery was delayed. He simply had them send it to the school.

With the target of his aggression gone, Shi Sui angrily tore the wrapper off the lollipop and crunched it in half. Sooner or later, he was going to slap that love letter in his bag right onto Lu Huaizhi’s face!

Lu Huaizhi returned with a square package and opened it right there in the classroom.

Wang Cheng asked curiously, “Top Student, did you buy scratch paper?”

Lu Huaizhi: “No.”

Wang Cheng wanted to ask more, but Qi Sizheng tapped the table. “You’ve been at it for half an hour and haven’t even finished the first row of the Periodic Table. You have time to play?”

“Keep memorizing!”

Wang Cheng looked pitifully at his best friend, hoping for a rescue, but Shi Sui was also staring at the problems on his desk, a lollipop practically crushed between his teeth. He clearly had no mental energy to spare.

Thus, Wang Cheng could only continue his muffled recitation.

Shi Sui was staring blankly at a diagram of a wooden block attached to a spring. He couldn’t understand why something so simple had such complex forces acting on it.

Just as he was about to give up, the person beside him leaned closer. A right hand reached over, adding a few arrows to the diagrams.

“These are the directions and types of forces. It should be clearer this way.”

Lu Huaizhi had just come back from outside; he still carried a bit of heat that drifted out when hit by the cold AC air.

Shi Sui smelled that scent again—like a lush forest after being warmed by the sun, clean and crisp.

He glanced at Lu Huaizhi’s school jacket. It was washed to a faded white. The detergent at Lu Huaizhi’s house smelled surprisingly good.

Seeing Shi Sui didn’t respond, Lu Huaizhi asked, “Is it hard to understand?”

Shi Sui snapped back to reality and snatched the paper from Lu Huaizhi, acting tough. “I never said I couldn’t do it.”

With Lu Huaizhi’s arrows, Shi Sui quickly figured out the problem. He actually felt a small sense of achievement.

The corners of Shi Sui’s mouth twitched upward, but he quickly suppressed it. He was about to look at the next one when he heard Lu Huaizhi ask in a low voice, “Do you like pink?”

Shi Sui turned his head instinctively and saw the package on Lu Huaizhi’s desk. It was open at one corner, revealing pink pages inside.

Shi Sui: “?” Who use pink scratch paper?

He took a second look. The packaging was printed with large characters:

Romantic Love Letter Stationery and Envelope Set. 365 Sets.

A whole year’s supply.

…

The terrifying image of being buried under a mountain of pink love letters flashed through Shi Sui’s mind.

Seeing Wang Cheng about to turn around again, Shi Sui kicked his chair. “Turn around again and I’ll hit you!”

He then roughly stuffed the pink stationery set into Lu Huaizhi’s desk. “Who the f*ck likes your pink love letters?” He must have had a short circuit in his brain to even engage with Lu Huaizhi.

Afraid of being overheard, Shi Sui kept his voice very low. Compared to his fierce expression, his words had no lethality at all.

Lu Huaizhi looked at the pink stationery, which was now folded almost in half. He thought for a moment. “Then what color do you like? Yesterday’s blue?”

Shi Sui’s grip on his pen made a creaking sound. The tip almost pierced through the desk.

Wang Cheng, peeking from the front, thought: Uh oh. Great, how did the Top Student annoy Shi Sui this time?

While he was trying to think of how to mediate, Shi Sui lifted his eyes coldly. “Enjoying the eavesdropping?” Wang Cheng whipped his head back instantly.

Afterward, the only sounds in the classroom were the hum of the AC and Wang Cheng’s chanting of the Periodic Table.

The two in the back row stopped communicating entirely. Or rather, Shi Sui was giving Lu Huaizhi the silent treatment. Even the lollipop Lu Huaizhi offered was tossed back.

This eerie atmosphere lasted less than half an hour before Shi Sui ended it.

“I have to go to the internet cafe for my part-time job.” Shi Sui sat up and swept his things into his bag. “Leaving now.”

“Wait! I’m coming too!” Wang Cheng said immediately.

He was losing his mind over the Periodic Table and couldn’t wait to escape. Besides, he couldn’t handle the pressure of being around two top students alone.

“I’ll just go and play for a while.”

As Wang Cheng packed, he instinctively tried to swipe the Raccoon noodles, but Qi Sizheng held down the other end.

Qi Sizheng: “Finished the Periodic Table?” Wang Cheng withdrew his hand timidly. “Almost.”

He looked at the noodles unwillingly, then had an idea. “How about you come to the cafe with me? I’ll recite it for you there?”

He didn’t forget to invite Lu Huaizhi. “Top Student, you coming?”

Qi Sizheng: “?” Just as he was about to refuse, he saw Lu Huaizhi naturally starting to pack. “Okay.”

Thus, Shi Sui spent the walk listening to Wang Cheng recite elements like an idiot, seriously considering how to announce their friendship was over.

However, before he could find the words, they reached the cafe and Wang Cheng shut up.

Li Lulu happened to be at the counter. Seeing the three people behind Shi Sui, she said in surprise, “Shi Sui, should I give you a raise? You’re always bringing in new customers.”

Qi Sizheng, who had never been to an underground internet cafe, gripped his backpack straps awkwardly.

Wang Cheng patted his shoulder. “Monitor, this is the boss. We call her Sister Lulu. Pretty, right?”

“Wang Cheng, you’ve got a sweet mouth.” Li Lulu laughed. “The booth you usually use is empty. Play all you want today, it’s on the house.”

“Sister Lulu is the prettiest girl in Ancheng!” Wang Cheng cheered, dragging Qi Sizheng toward the booth. “Quick, while I still remember, let me recite the table for you!”

Shi Sui went to the counter to hand over the shift with Li Lulu.

Once he finished and threw some trash away, he turned to find Lu Huaizhi still standing behind him.

Shi Sui frowned. “What are you doing?”

Lu Huaizhi glanced at the computer station closest to the counter. “That spot is taken.”

“It’s not your private seat.” Shi Sui found him inexplicable and began to shoo him away. “Go with Wang Cheng.”

Lu Huaizhi didn’t move.

He was tall and good-looking; standing at the entrance of the cafe, he was both in the way and an eyesore.

Shi Sui ground his teeth. “What do you want then?” He couldn’t exactly kick out a paying customer.

Lu Huaizhi looked at the spacious counter. “Can I sit here with you?”

“There was a knowledge point from earlier I didn’t emphasize enough. I can catch you up now.”

But Shi Sui wasn’t buying it. “No.” He didn’t want to be squeezed into the counter with Lu Huaizhi.

“Wait.” Li Lulu, who had been watching the drama, blinked at Shi Sui. “Shi Sui, are you studying with someone?”

She pulled a plastic stool from under the counter and placed it next to Shi Sui’s office chair. “Little handsome guy, sit here. Help this kid with his schoolwork.”

Seeing Shi Sui about to object, she snatched Lu Huaizhi’s bag. “Who’s the boss here? I said he sits here!”

She poked Shi Sui’s forehead. “You’re in Grade 11. Study hard. Do you really want to work in my cafe forever? I won’t keep you.”

She pushed Lu Huaizhi into the seat. “If Shi Sui doesn’t study, just tell me. I’ll deal with him.”

Lu Huaizhi nodded cooperatively.

The counter was more than enough for one person, but it was a bit cramped for two high school boys.

Moreover, the desktop wasn’t wide. It was full once two exam papers were laid out. Shi Sui and Lu Huaizhi’s work were forced to overlap, and their arms would touch with even the slightest movement.

Since it was still warm outside, they hadn’t worn their jackets. Their arms brushed occasionally; Shi Sui could clearly feel the other’s skin and warmth.

Shi Sui felt his ears heating up again. But they were two guys, what was the big deal? Why was he being so awkward?

Something was wrong. And very uncomfortable.

Just as Shi Sui was about to find an excuse to flee, he saw Lu Huaizhi cross his arms and rub them.

Only then did Shi Sui notice Lu Huaizhi’s face was a bit pale.

The counter was directly in the path of the standing AC unit. He usually thought it felt refreshing, but he hadn’t realized Lu Huaizhi was so weak that he couldn’t take it for even a few minutes.

“Where’s your jacket?”

“Left it in the classroom.”

Lu Huaizhi coughed once. “Sorry.”

“Sorry for what?” Shi Sui irritably opened his bag and threw his school jacket at Lu Huaizhi. “Put it on. Don’t go getting sick and blaming me.”

Lu Huaizhi held the jacket. “Really giving it to me?”

“No sh*t,” Shi Sui said. “I haven’t worn it while smoking.”

As soon as he said it, he felt the explanation was unnecessary. He crossed his arms, trying to regain some dignity. “But my jacket might be big on you. I usually roll the sleeves up a bit; you can pull them up…”

He trailed off as Lu Huaizhi put the jacket on. When he straightened his arms, a section of his forearm was exposed past the cuffs.

Lu Huaizhi pulled the rolled sleeves down. “The size is just right.”

… Shi Sui shut his mouth instantly.