Fei Cheng ignored Yu Qing’s antics and pulled an old-school Game Boy out from a corner to give to him. It was an old-model Super Mario—black and white, no color.
Cheng Yifei instinctively walked over to his desk. Everything in this room was tidy except for this cluttered desk, which looked quite out of place.
He flipped through the materials Fei Cheng had been studying, the corners of his mouth curling upward. "Quite diligent, aren't you?"
Fei Cheng invited him to sit while he leaned against the desk, looking smug. "Of course. I can't let down Brother Cheng’s expectations, can I?"
"Run into any difficult problems?"
"Not for now. The harder ones just take a bit of time to solve. Luckily, the knowledge points for seventh grade aren't that deep yet."
"It’s good that you’ve woken up early. If you work hard now, there’s still time for everything," Cheng Yifei said, nodding.
Fei Cheng burst out laughing. "Brother Cheng, how old are you exactly? Why do I feel like you’re even older than Big Eyes? You talk so formally, like a little old man."
Cheng Yifei looked up at him. Feeling a sudden itch in his hands, he followed his instinct and pinched Fei Cheng’s cheek. He let go after a moment and remarked, "You have a tiger tooth."
Fei Cheng was just about to puff out his chest in pride when he heard Cheng Yifei continue, "You’re supposed to be thirteen, but when you smile, you look like you’re seven or eight."
*Seven or eight, my foot!*
Yu Qing, busy playing his game, chimed in, "Are you guys for real? Discussing studies at school, and still discussing studies on the weekend! But I have to say, Chengcheng’s smile really is eye-catching. Even I feel comfortable looking at it; it’s not awkward at all. That girl next to me, Liu Tingting, is always stealing glances at you. I suspect she’s got a crush."
Fei Cheng swatted Cheng Yifei’s hand away and rubbed his face. "Is 'Chengcheng' a name you’re allowed to call me? And crush, my ass. Play your game and stop talking nonsense."
Yu Qing huffed and ignored them, focusing back on his game.
Cheng Yifei asked about what happened yesterday, and the two of them chatted, their conversation punctuated by Yu Qing’s occasional shouts whenever he failed a level.
In the blink of an eye, it was noon.
Grandma Fei wanted to go up and call them down for lunch, but Fei Qi stopped her, saying he would go instead.
Fei Qi walked upstairs with light steps. When he reached Fei Cheng’s door, he first pressed his ear against the wood to eavesdrop. The game sounds were too loud, and he couldn't hear anything else clearly. He switched ears, but he still couldn't make out what they were talking about.
Giving up, he frowned and knocked on the door. "Fei Cheng, bring your classmates down for lunch."
Fei Cheng answered and patted Cheng Yifei’s shoulder. "Let’s go, Brother Cheng. Time to eat."
Yu Qing checked the time and cursed. "Holy crap, it’s twelve already? Brother Cheng, let’s head home."
Fei Cheng pressed down on Cheng Yifei’s shoulder and said to Yu Qing, "What, you have the guts to enter my house but not the guts to eat a meal?"
Yu Qing got defensive. "Who says I don't?! I’m mostly worried Brother Cheng will feel awkward."
Cheng Yifei saw the spark in Fei Cheng’s eyes and stood up. "I don't feel awkward at all."
Yu Qing: "?" *Cheng Yifei, we’ve known each other for five or six years, and you’ve never once eaten a meal at my house!*
Fei Cheng led the two to the dining table. Grandpa Fei had already returned and began asking Cheng Yifei and Yu Qing where they were from, how old they were, who was in their family, what their parents did, and so on...
After getting the basic information, Grandma Fei finally scolded Grandpa Fei. "The kids are trying to eat! Why are you asking so much? Is this a census? Hurry up and eat."
Grandpa Fei wasn't annoyed. He chuckled twice. "Look at me, look at me. When you get old, you just like to nag. Don't mind me, boys. Eat, eat! This fish is fresh, and these vegetables too. Have some more, don't be polite. Chengcheng usually relies on you guys to look after him at school. Thank you. Come on, eat, eat."
Fei Cheng found it amusing. After lunch, they returned to the room. Yu Qing sat in front of the fan, still feeling a lingering fear. "My god, Chengcheng, do your grandparents raise you like a girl? I felt like a prospective son-in-law visiting for the first time, having my entire family history turned inside out."
Fei Cheng spat in mock annoyance. "No classmates have ever come to my house to find me. My grandpa is just so excited that it feels surreal to him. Move over, Brother Cheng needs the fan too."
Yu Qing silently moved aside. "Let’s do something fun! You guys aren't going to keep studying, are you? If you dare to study, I’ll die right in front of you!"
He quickly suggested, "How about we go play basketball?"
Fei Cheng was slightly tempted. "Where’s the court and the ball?"
Yu Qing: "I have a basketball! Doesn't your elementary school have a court?"
Cheng Yifei clicked his tongue. "You mean you’re going to get the ball from your house and then play at the Qiantang Elementary court?"
Yu Qing nodded. "Yeah, any problem?"
"No problem. It took you over ninety minutes to cycle here. A round trip would be at least a hundred and eighty minutes—three hours? Sure, go back and get it. It’s past one now; you’ll be back with the ball around four. The sun won't be as fierce then. Perfect for basketball." Fei Cheng couldn't stop laughing.
Yu Qing: "..." *That seems to be the case.*
"Wait, if I freaking cycle for three hours, will I even have the strength to play basketball?? Forget it!"
Fei Cheng was still laughing. "Then what? Are we playing or not? I don't have any 'programs' here other than studying."
Yu Qing wailed and collapsed onto the floor in despair. Then, his brain took a turn, and he suddenly sat up. "Come play at my house!"
Fei Cheng shook his head in refusal. "It’ll be past three by the time we get there. What’s the point? Maybe another day."
"What’s wrong with three o'clock? You can stay the night at my place! We can play all day tomorrow. If you think my house is too old since it's a tile-roofed house, you can stay at Cheng Yifei’s. His family has a multi-story house too. That way, we can go to school together on Sunday. How about it?"
Fei Cheng: "..." Living with a bunch of guys in the dorm made him feel like his heart was already strong enough—after all, that was a matter of necessity. But staying at a male classmate’s house? How should he put it... he might need to train his adaptability a bit more.
"Say something. Are you coming or not?" Yu Qing stared at him without blinking.
Fei Cheng looked at the ceiling for a moment. "Maybe not. I have a lot of homework this week. I’ll go to your place when there's a chance in the future."
"What the hell? A lot of homework?"
Cheng Yifei exposed him without mercy. "Your homework seems to be finished already."
Fei Cheng: "..." *Big brother, don't pull the rug out from under me like that, okay?*
Under the gaze of those two pairs of eyes, Fei Cheng could only speak honestly. "Well, it’s just that... I’m not used to squeezing into a bed with someone else. You see, I’ve slept alone since I was a kid... well, since I was ten. Before ten, I still slept with my grandparents."
"Then haven't you only slept alone for three years? What’s the big deal? Cheng Yifei’s house has plenty of spare rooms! Right?"
Cheng Yifei gave a hum of affirmation.
Fei Cheng: "Is this a mandatory trip?"
Yu Qing nodded heavily. "If we're brothers, you have to come! What are you afraid of?"
Fei Cheng felt a surge of anxiety but couldn't show it. The fist hidden behind his back clenched so hard his knuckles turned white.
Yu Qing didn't see it, but Cheng Yifei noticed. Doubts rose in his mind as he secretly observed Fei Cheng’s expression. From the surface, you really couldn't tell that Fei Cheng was unwilling or angry.
It wasn't the first time he had seen Fei Cheng in this state. Although it felt strange, when he thought about what the boy had gone through in the past, it seemed... there was a logical explanation?
Cheng Yifei spoke up to break the tension. "Let’s talk about it next time. There’s plenty of time; no need to rush."
Fei Cheng’s clenched hand instantly relaxed, and his brow smoothed over. "Brother Cheng is right."
He really didn't want to go to someone else's house. But while he could ignore Yu Qing’s feelings, he couldn't ignore Cheng Yifei’s. The guy had helped him so much; since it wasn't an unreasonable request, it was truly hard for him to say no.
Yu Qing sighed and flopped back onto the floor. "Fine, let’s study then! Let’s study together! Who’s afraid of who!! You academic dregs!!!"
As it turned out, they actually discussed problem sets until four in the afternoon...
It was time for Cheng Yifei and the other to head back. Fei Cheng saw them to the door, feeling a bit sheepish. "Sorry about that. There really isn't much to do around my place. I’ll visit you guys another day instead."
At the very least, he needed to get more familiar with them. They had only known each other for how long? And he was supposed to spend the night at their house? Or was the standard for male friendship simply "if we click, we're sharing a pair of pants at home"?
Yu Qing rang his bicycle bell with his foot on the pedal. "You said it! Next time it’s your turn to come over. If Cheng Yifei hadn't been worried that something happened to you after school yesterday, we wouldn't have rushed all this way. He had things to do at home yesterday and was in a hurry to get back, otherwise he definitely would have gone to find you!"
Cheng Yifei kicked him. "Why do you talk so much?"
Fei Cheng gave Cheng Yifei a mock salute. "I thank the Organization for its meticulous cultivation and concern! I will surely grow up strong, stand out among the students, and resolutely not disappoint the Organization!"
Yu Qing laughed loudly. "You idiot."
Cheng Yifei nodded coolly, accepting the salute, and patted his shoulder. "If you fail, you’ll be dragged out and cut in half."
"Heh?" Fei Cheng was highly amused.
"We're off." Cheng Yifei and Yu Qing pedaled their bikes toward the setting sun. Their shadows stretched long across the road. Occasionally, Yu Qing’s loud shouting could still be heard, accompanied by the crisp *ring-ring* of the bicycle bell.
Fei Cheng stood and watched for a while, then rubbed his nose and turned back into the yard, closing the gate. How should he put it? Just now, he had almost wanted to grab his own Phoenix-brand BMW and chase after them. That damn atmosphere had awakened his youthful blood.
Fei Cheng bounded back into the house in three steps. Grandma Fei was sitting on a bamboo chair by the door, picking over vegetables. Seeing him so childlike, she looked inside and smiled. "It seems our Chengcheng is very happy today."
Fei Cheng drank a glass of cold water and hopped over to crouch in front of Grandma Fei. He hugged his knees, looking perfectly well-behaved. "I am happy, Grandma! I’m super happy today! The dishes you cooked at noon were so good my tongue almost fell off!"
Grandma Fei teased his chin with a stalk of vegetable. "You, you only know how to make this old woman happy."
"I’m clearly telling the absolute truth. Right, Da Hei?"
"Woof! Woof woof!" Da Hei, lying on the ground, barked twice and wagged his tail frantically.
Fei Cheng ran over and gave the dog’s head a good rub.
Upstairs, Fei Qi was standing at Fei Cheng’s desk, flipping through the completed homework and class notebooks.
The handwriting was definitely that kid’s, but why couldn't he understand this homework?
Was it copied?
Who copies homework and also copies a sheet of scratch paper with all the calculations?
Fei Qi flipped through several other subjects and extracurricular workbooks. There was nothing wrong; it was all Fei Cheng’s handwriting.
Was he really studying?
Fei Qi pondered with a frown, put the books back exactly as they were, and quietly left the room.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 虎牙 | Tiger tooth | A slightly protruding canine tooth, often considered cute in East Asian cultures. |
| 凤凰牌宝马 | Phoenix-brand BMW | A humorous reference to Phoenix, a famous Chinese bicycle brand, calling it a "BMW." |
| 组织 | The Organization | Used here as a mock-formal way to refer to his friends/the group. |
| 大黑 | Da Hei | Literally "Big Black," a common name for a black dog. |
| 钱塘小学 | Qiantang Elementary | The name of the local school. |
