Su Jingming climbed the stairs one step at a time until only two or three steps remained between him and Wen Yan. Wen Yan looked down at him, and Su Jingming tilted his head back to meet his gaze.
The latter’s gray school uniform was unzipped, looking somewhat disheveled from his run. His breathing was still slightly uneven as he said, "I am definitely going to kill Song Yifei."
Wen Yan laughed. "Murder is illegal." He reached out and ruffled Su Jingming’s hair a few times. "Are you really that angry?"
"That was a violation of my portrait rights," Su Jingming grumbled, unwilling to let it go. "How did he manage to take such an ugly photo of me?"
This was the first time Su Jingming had ever cared about his image. He absentmindedly smoothed down the hair Wen Yan had just messed up, watching as Wen Yan opened his phone and tapped the screen a few times.
A moment later, Su Jingming received a notification.
Wen Yan raised an eyebrow. "Open it and see."
Puzzled, Su Jingming opened WeChat. When he clicked on the image, he saw that Wen Yan had taken the photo Song Yifei sent and photoshopped Ultraman Tiga right next to him.
Su Jingming: "..." He endured it for a long while before muttering, "You’re so childish."
Wen Yan gave a hum of agreement. "It is a bit childish." He paused for a beat. "I just don't know when the person next to you in the photo will be replaced by me."
Su Jingming’s hand stiffened. Only then did he remember that he had come here to coax Wen Yan.
How had it turned into Wen Yan coaxing him?
He had been led by the nose from the very beginning.
He looked up at Wen Yan and asked with total seriousness, "Can you please stop being angry?"
Wen Yan couldn't help but chuckle. "If I said I was actually quite angry, what would you do?"
Su Jingming looked at him in disbelief. Wen Yan looked no different than usual, except his smile seemed a bit more intimidating than normal.
The post Su Jingming had read earlier immediately flashed through his mind.
*Wash myself clean and offer myself up to him?*
Su Jingming’s face crumpled. Did he really have to go that far?
It wasn't easy starting a relationship, especially a secret high school romance. And as if that wasn't enough, the other person just had to be Wen Yan.
Before Su Jingming could figure out what to say, Wen Yan walked down two steps to close the distance between them. His silhouette loomed over Su Jingming, blocking out most of the light. He leaned in and whispered into Su Jingming’s ear, "Take your time thinking. I’m in no rush."
Because of that single sentence, Su Jingming spent the entire day feeling that dating was exhausting—more exhausting than studying. Aside from the time he spent grinding through practice problems, he spent most of his time wondering what he should do. Yet, seeing Wen Yan chatting and laughing as usual, he didn't look like someone who was angry.
During a break between classes, Su Jingming took the opportunity to whisper, "Looking at you now..."
Wen Yan looked up. "Little Hero, I’m still angry."
His tone was somewhat stiff, indeed carrying a hint of resentment.
Su Jingming was slightly stunned. *Damn, he really is angry.*
Out of options, Su Jingming tracked down Song Yifei.
Song Yifei hadn't expected Su Jingming to corner him at the entrance of the restroom. When he saw the flash of impatience in Su Jingming’s eyes, he silently swallowed and gripped the cigarette pack in his pocket.
"...You here to smoke too?" Song Yifei wanted to slap himself the moment the words left his mouth.
Su Jingming: "The photo was well-taken."
Song Yifei: "..."
Su Jingming: "Next time you want to take one, you don't have to be so sneaky. We are fair-weather friends, after all."
Song Yifei listened as Su Jingming’s voice grew colder, recalling the day not long ago when Su Jingming had kicked him out of the dormitory. "Su Jingming, let's talk this out calmly. Even though we don't hang out much usually..."
Before he could finish, Su Jingming narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips.
Song Yifei immediately changed his tune: "Wait, no, we’re such good brothers, such good friends. Why would we ever come to blows?"
"Is this what good brothers do?" Su Jingming asked. "Tattling like this?"
"That wasn't tattling. I was just concerned about the relationship between you two..." Song Yifei couldn't find the right words for a moment, suddenly regretting that he hadn't studied harder.
Seeing that the bell was about to ring, Su Jingming sighed and said with an unnatural expression, "Wen Yan is angry."
He spoke so fast that Song Yifei didn't catch it. "What did you say?"
"I said, he’s angry."
Song Yifei let out an "oh," then suddenly slapped Su Jingming’s shoulder. "Brilliant, brother! Hahahaha! You actually managed to make him angry? I’ve rarely seen him lose his temper. Come on, take me to see him. I want to see what he looks like with a long face!"
Song Yifei actually tried to drag Su Jingming to see Wen Yan, but Su Jingming stayed rooted to the spot.
After a few failed tugs, Song Yifei gave up. "Fine, man. Just tell me what you want from me."
Su Jingming sighed. "You caused this mess. You better think of a way out for me."
"What can I do?" Song Yifei rubbed his chin with his finger. "Well, it’s not like there’s no way. Why don't you just search for a solution online?"
"..." *It’s precisely because the online advice was unreliable that I came to you. You’re making me look like an idiot.*
Song Yifei continued, "I haven't really dated much either. Even though you’re still a minor, there are some things you should understand by now, right?"
Su Jingming suddenly regretted wasting ten precious minutes looking for Song Yifei. He would have been better off surfing the web.
Su Jingming returned to the classroom with a blank expression. The moment he sat down, Wen Yan asked, "That was a long bathroom break."
Su Jingming glanced at Wen Yan but didn't answer. He pulled the textbook for the next class out of his desk and flipped through a few pages.
His lips remained pressed together, giving off an aura that said he was not to be trifled with.
Seeing him like this, Wen Yan began to wonder if he had taken the teasing too far. Just as he was about to speak, Su Jingming slid a small note over from the edge of the desk.
*Brother, please don't be mad anymore.*
There was a drawing of Tiga at the bottom.
Wen Yan was struck dumb before letting out a soft laugh. He folded the note neatly and tucked it into his textbook. Seeing that there was no reaction from his side, Su Jingming was about to turn his head to say something to Wen Yan when the bell rang. The chemistry teacher walked in, swaying slightly, carrying a book and a thermos.
The words at the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down.
Throughout the day, Su Jingming looked listless. He turned down Ren Wei and Li Yang’s request to go eat hot and sour rice noodles at the school gate. Su Jingming hadn't expected that making his partner angry for the first time in his life would have such a strong lingering effect.
The students left the classroom one after another until only Su Jingming and Wen Yan remained in their seats.
Zhang Jia was the last to leave. Before going, she asked Su Jingming, "Why haven't you gone to eat yet?"
Su Jingming didn't even feel like responding. He just gave her a lazy glance and said dryly, "I’ll go in a bit."
Zhang Jia wanted to invite him again, but with Wen Yan right there, she held her tongue. Before leaving the room, she turned back to look at them several times.
The two boys sitting side by side were a sight to behold.
So much so that she felt they were a perfect match.
The classroom was deathly silent. Su Jingming drank half a bottle of water and stood up to go eat. Wen Yan blocked his path, showing no intention of moving.
"Let me through."
"No."
"You might not be hungry, but I am." Su Jingming didn't dare look Wen Yan in the eye.
Wen Yan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He looked down at him with darkened eyes. "What did you call me on that note just now?"
Su Jingming’s gaze flickered. "...What... what note?" *Damn it, you actually remember the note?*
Hearing his tone, Wen Yan suddenly let out a low laugh. He took the folded note out of his book and unfolded it, slowly repeating the words written on it. "Brother..."
His voice wasn't particularly gentle; it carried a hint of coolness mixed with a thick sense of desire.
The tips of Su Jingming’s ears turned red. He reached out to snatch it. "I thought you didn't see it. Give it back."
Wen Yan blocked Su Jingming’s reaching hand, grabbed his wrist, and pulled him closer. Su Jingming lost his balance and fell against Wen Yan.
He smelled a faint, clean fragrance on Wen Yan—a scent he couldn't quite describe.
The two of them stayed in that embrace for a long time. The noise outside the window gradually faded, and the fluorescent lights overhead seemed less piercing in that moment.
After a long silence, Wen Yan whispered into Su Jingming’s ear, "I wasn't angry. I was a little jealous."
Only then did Su Jingming understand.
Wen Yan was jealous.
"Seeing you eat with her made me feel a bit uncomfortable." Wen Yan nuzzled against his ear. "Do you think I'm being too selfish?"
"...No." Su Jingming’s voice was low and muffled. "Actually, I didn't want to eat with her either."
If it hadn't been for her threat, Su Jingming wouldn't have been willing to go.
At this age, he had no other way to protect Wen Yan.
He was afraid that if their relationship was exposed one day, people would point fingers at Wen Yan.
How could he let someone as outstanding as Wen Yan go through that?
This was Su Jingming’s first relationship, yet he was thinking deeply about these matters.
He didn't dare imagine what he or Wen Yan would do if these things were ever made public.
Since they had made their relationship official, they had never discussed such things.
They hadn't discussed the future, nor had they discussed reality.
At seventeen or eighteen, an age when they should be enjoying their youth, they had fallen for someone the world would not permit.
At Wen Yan’s strong insistence, Su Jingming accompanied him to the cafeteria for several days, always going when it was crowded.
Ren Wei and Li Yang protested more than once. "If you don't let Su Jingming come with us to eat hot and sour noodles at the gate, we’re going on a hunger strike!"
Wen Yan: "Why does Su Jingming have to go with you?"
"Because the lady who owns the stall says Su Jingming looks exactly like the boy she liked when she was young! Every time he goes, she gives us extra noodles for free!" Li Yang spoke with righteous indignation, and even Ren Wei, who was scrolling through his phone nearby, nodded in agreement.
Su Jingming slowly looked up. "...Not going!"
Li Yang: "Come on, eat more, you'll be happy!"
Su Jingming: "I'm not happy. Not going."
Ren Wei was about to chime in when he looked up from his phone, pointing at Su Jingming with a look of horror. "Someone took a photo of you and Zhang Jia eating together! They’re saying you two are dating!"
As soon as the words were out, the entire Room 505 fell silent.
Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.
***
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Want to Have a Relationship with You | Chapter 44 | A Taste of Jealousy | Novela.app | Novela.app
