"Little Hero?"
Su Jingming had to admit that when he saw those two words, a strange sense of satisfaction welled up in his heart.
His faith was Tiga, the one people called a hero.
He took a deep breath, unnoticed. The October breeze carried the scent of autumn, rushing through his nose to every corner of his body. It stirred every cell, and a gradual heat began to rise within him, blowing away the suppressed emotions in his heart.
Su Jingming pressed his lips into a thin line and gripped his phone tightly, delaying his reply to Wen Yan.
Wen Yan arched an eyebrow and sent another message.
Wen Yan: *What’s wrong?*
After a dozen seconds, Su Jingming’s fingers tapped out a few words on the screen and sent them.
Salted Egg: *Just remembered, you stopping that thug’s punch was pretty impressive.*
Wen Yan beamed. The two of them completely ignored the fact that Song Yifei was still there.
Song Yifei looked at them, bewildered. He had mostly finished his barbecue. Wiping his fingers with a tissue, he asked, "Are you guys... done eating?"
Wen Yan and Su Jingming looked up at him simultaneously.
"Done."
"Done."
Song Yifei’s hand paused mid-wipe. "You two are surprisingly in sync."
Wen Yan stood up, tucked his phone into his pocket, and after settling the bill, came over to pick up his backpack. He asked Su Jingming, "Where do you live?"
Su Jingming looked up and gestured toward a certain direction. "Just over there."
Wen Yan slung his bag over one shoulder, his expression returning to its usual calm. His grey school uniform was neatly zipped up to his chest. "I'll walk you."
Song Yifei looked at Wen Yan in surprise. The words "Are you going to walk me too?" were on the tip of his tongue, but he forced himself to swallow them.
He had never seen Wen Yan treat anyone with such special consideration.
Su Jingming shook his head. "No need. It’s just a few steps away."
What was the point of having another guy walk him home? He wasn't that delicate.
Wen Yan frowned, not quite at ease letting Su Jingming head back alone. He was worried Su Jingming might run into that gang of thugs again and be unable to handle them.
Su Jingming didn't give Wen Yan time to think. He picked up his plastic bag, took a few steps toward home, and waved his hand over his shoulder.
Regardless of anything else, he had been cool enough for one day!
***
Back home, Su Jingming put away the things he had bought. He grabbed a set of clean clothes and went to the bathroom for a shower. While drying his hair, he picked up his phone.
Before showering, he had sent Wen Yan a message.
Su Jingming hadn't even unlocked his phone yet, but his movements to dry his hair slowed down.
Since when had he started chatting with Wen Yan so frequently? He was even becoming used to it.
Su Jingming figured this was probably just his "elementary schooler" mentality acting up—when you get a new friend, you naturally want to show off for a few days.
But as for a friend like Wen Yan, how long could it really last?
Su Jingming didn't want to think that far ahead.
However, based on past experience, Wen Yan would likely find him boring within half a month and gradually distance himself.
That was how the script usually went. But the moment Su Jingming thought about Wen Yan distancing himself in the future, his gums began to itch with irritation.
It was a very unpleasant feeling.
He opened WeChat. The first message was from Wen Yan.
Wen Yan: *I’m home too.*
Wen Yan: *Almost finished packing. See you tomorrow.*
Su Jingming’s finger hovered in the air. He typed the words "See you tomorrow" but hesitated to hit send.
He pressed his tongue against his upper teeth, clicked his tongue, and tossed the phone onto the bed. He collapsed onto the mattress, sinking into the soft blankets.
Su Jingming peeked out from the covers, his brown eyes reflecting the Ultraman Tiga figure on the corner of his desk.
*Little Hero.*
Those two words were like warm spring water, slowly flowing into the deepest part of his heart.
The corners of Su Jingming’s mouth slowly curled up. Those simple words were enough to stir his emotions. He thought he had never been this happy over a few simple words before.
The next morning, before leaving, Su Jingming left a note for Su Qicheng. He didn't send a text or make a call. Stepping into the late-arriving daylight, he carried a travel bag and walked toward the school.
Su Jingming arrived at the meeting point ten minutes early. He stood under a massive sycamore tree, looking up to see the leaves tinged with the colors of autumn.
Su Jingming didn't usually have a good impression of autumn, but for some reason, this year’s autumn colors looked quite pleasing to the eye. He subconsciously scrunched his nose, and the glasses on his bridge shifted slightly.
Autumn. It was actually quite beautiful.
Wen Yan also arrived before the appointed time. He carried his backpack in his left hand and a gift box in his right. He saw Su Jingming standing under the sycamore tree in the distance, yellowed leaves slowly falling around him.
One leaf happened to land right on Su Jingming’s glasses.
He didn't use his hand; he simply lowered his head slightly, revealing his pale neck, and the leaf slid off.
The oversized school uniform hid Su Jingming’s frame.
He was so thin.
How could someone so thin take on five people at once?
The lines of his neck were very elegant, extending from the ends of his slightly long hair and disappearing into the collar of his uniform.
Wen Yan thought back to last night, watching Su Jingming deal with those thugs in the dark. Even when he took a punch to the stomach, he hadn't made a sound.
At that thought, Wen Yan’s eyes darkened as he walked toward Su Jingming.
Su Jingming placed his right hand on his neck and stretched, letting out a few audible cracks. When he looked up again, Wen Yan was already standing in front of him.
"..." Su Jingming blinked. "Do you walk without making a sound?"
Wen Yan chuckled at that. He tossed the gift box into Su Jingming’s arms. "Just think of me as a ghost then, walking without a sound."
Su Jingming instinctively caught the box.
The box wasn't large, about the width of a book. However, the colorful wrapping paper looked a bit out of place, especially with that large red pull bow.
This was the first time Su Jingming had received a gift. Or rather, the first time he had received such a *special* gift.
A hint of awkwardness appeared on Wen Yan’s face. "I had Wen Miao wrap it. The aesthetic standards of young girls these days are truly a bit strange."
Su Jingming’s eyes flickered. "What is it?"
"Tiga," Wen Yan said, looking specifically toward the white light on the horizon as a sliver of warm yellow sunlight broke through.
After several days of drizzling rain, Liangcheng was finally clearing up.
Su Jingming lowered his gaze. His glasses obscured most of his face, making it impossible to read his expression.
This wasn't the first time Wen Yan had given someone a gift, yet his heart felt strangely apprehensive.
Su Jingming opened his mouth, the word "Thanks" on the tip of his tongue.
"Tha—"
"Not bad, young men. You're here early." Zhou Hong suddenly appeared behind Wen Yan, patting his shoulder kindly. "Young people should be full of vigor, vitality, and sunshine. Look, the weather is great today; it's a good omen."
Wen Yan turned around with a helpless expression. "Good morning, Teacher Zhou."
Zhou Hong nodded, looking full of inexhaustible energy. He turned his gaze toward Su Jingming, looking him up and down for a good while until Su Jingming began to feel uncomfortable.
Finally, his gaze settled on Su Jingming’s face.
"Su Jingming, I have a suggestion. I don't know if you'll listen..."
"I won't." Su Jingming pursed his lips, looking like he wasn't to be trifled with, while still holding Wen Yan’s gift box tightly in his arms.
Zhou Hong wasn't angry. In his eyes, a student with Su Jingming’s personality was already classified as a "problem child." He coughed twice. "The car arranged by the school is over there. I'll drop you off at the training site and then come back."
Wen Yan raised an eyebrow. "Teacher Zhou, you aren't staying there with us?"
Logically, as a math teacher and their class advisor, it would be convenient for him to stay.
Zhou Hong wagged a finger and led them toward the car. "I applied for it, but it was a no-go. There are residential teachers there; if you need anything for your daily life, just find them. I’ve looked into it—there aren't many students going this time, but they are all the cream of the crop."
Wen Yan nodded. Zhou Hong continued, "However, I believe that with your strength, you will definitely achieve great rankings. After all, you are the rising stars of No. 2 High, the light of the future!"
Zhou Hong spoke loudly, his voice sounding abrupt in the quiet morning.
Hearing this, Su Jingming thought back to the day he was tricked into joining the competition.
He ground his molars. It was a pity Zhou Hong wasn't a Chinese teacher; he was incredibly good at sweet-talking people. The worst part was that Su Jingming had actually fallen for it.
The school had arranged a sedan to take them. Zhou Hong sat in the passenger seat, while Su Jingming and Wen Yan sat in the back.
The two of them put their backpacks in the trunk. Su Jingming stood by the car, holding the gift box Wen Yan had given him, momentarily unsure of what to do.
If he kept it with him, would it make him look "low," like it was his first time receiving a gift?
But if he put it in the trunk... how could Tiga be put in the trunk?!
Only where there is light can there be Tiga!
Wen Yan, standing by the other door, watched Su Jingming who hadn't moved. Zhou Hong poked his head out of the window from the passenger seat. "What are you two doing? Why aren't you getting in?"
"Coming," Wen Yan replied. He let out a low chuckle. "Little Hero, what are you still thinking about? Get in."
Hearing that "Little Hero," Su Jingming snapped out of it. He looked at Wen Yan, feeling a bit flustered. Wen Yan was standing opposite him, a smile playing on his lips.
Wen Yan hadn't expected to see such an expression on Su Jingming’s face, and the smile in his eyes deepened. "Let's go, Little Hero."
Su Jingming nodded blankly and took his seat.
Zhou Hong turned his head, eyeing the gift box in Su Jingming’s arms. "Who gave that to you?!"
Before Su Jingming could think of what to say, Zhou Hong added, "Was it a girl?!"
"While I don't encourage or approve of puppy love, can't you at least show some restraint in front of me? It's already time for the camp, and you're still holding onto it?!"
"..."
Su Jingming licked the corner of his mouth. Wen Yan couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
Su Jingming glanced sideways and said stiffly, "It wasn't from a girl. I don't have any luck with girls."
Zhou Hong scrutinized Su Jingming with a skeptical look until Wen Yan spoke up. "Teacher Zhou, please sit properly. It’s dangerous to lean like that."
Zhou Hong rubbed his nose, gave a muffled grunt, and listened to Wen Yan, turning back around.
Wen Yan leaned against the back of the seat. He glanced sideways and thought he saw the tips of Su Jingming’s ears turning red.
His fingers rested naturally on his knee, tapping a light, arhythmic beat.
He couldn't resist. He opened the phone in his palm and sent Su Jingming a WeChat message.
Wen Yan: *Why didn't you put the gift in the trunk?*
Su Jingming placed the gift box carefully on his lap. He lowered his eyelids and replied to the message very seriously.
Salted Egg: *Because where there is light, there is Tiga.*
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
咸蛋 | Salted Egg | Su Jingming's WeChat handle; a common Chinese nickname for Ultraman due to the shape of his eyes.
迪迦 | Tiga | Refers to Ultraman Tiga.
小学鸡 | Elementary schooler | Slang for someone who is childish or immature.
早恋 | Puppy love | Literally "early love," referring to romantic relationships between students.
二中 | No. 2 High | Short for the city's Second Middle/High School.
凉城 | Liangcheng | The name of the city where the story takes place.
生活老师 | Residential teacher | A teacher responsible for supervising students' daily lives/dormitories.
