Seeing Fei Cheng so happy, Cheng Yifei laughed as well. He hooked an arm around the boy's shoulder and began tickling his waist. "Are you sure you want to be that fierce?"
"Hahaha! Brother Cheng, don't tickle me! I was wrong, I won't be fierce anymore! I'll stop, I'll stop! Hey, the phone's going to fall, it’s really going to fall! Stop it, help..." Fei Cheng curled up on the sofa, desperately trying to dodge Cheng Yifei’s mischievous hands. He was incredibly ticklish and could only beg for mercy.
Cheng Yifei hovered over him. The moment their eyes met, he let go and sat up, suppressing the stirrings in his heart. He said to Fei Cheng, "There’s 10GB of data on the SIM card. You can browse the internet however you want, don't worry about it."
"Ten... 10GB? Why did you buy so much? There aren't even any videos to watch; you'll never use it all." Fei Cheng, left weak from the tickling, lay there lazily scrolling through the phone.
Cheng Yifei shifted the blame to his parents. "My dad’s client gave it to him as a bonus. My phone has 10GB of data too."
Fei Cheng nodded. "Oh, I see."
Cheng Yifei glanced at him, then pulled a box from under the table. Opening it, he asked, "Do you want a phone charm? My mom bought a pair; they’re basketball figures. I thought you’d like them."
Fei Cheng sat up to look. They were two anime-style figures: one holding a basketball in its left hand, the other in its right. One wore a red jersey and the other blue, but otherwise, they were identical, both sporting "cool and cute" expressions.
"Hey! Where did she get these? The carving is so vivid." Fei Cheng picked up the blue-jersey charm, unable to put it down.
"Mm, I'm not sure." Cheng Yifei took a paperclip from the box and threaded the blue figure through the charm hole of the old phone, then threaded the red one into his own new phone.
He handed the old phone back to Fei Cheng. As if completing a mission, he looked at him and said, "This way, my mom’s gesture won't go to waste. She went out of her way to buy them and mail them back."
Fei Cheng looked at the red and blue charms and pressed his lips together in silence. This felt a bit like a "couple's set."
Cheng Yifei grew increasingly nervous. If he had known, he would have attached the charms beforehand! But he had also wanted to test Fei Cheng’s reaction—cautiously hoping he would notice, yet also hoping he wouldn't.
"Do you not like it?" Cheng Yifei asked, lowering his eyes.
Fei Cheng hesitated repeatedly, but in the end, he swallowed the questions he wanted to ask. Toying with the phone, he smiled and said, "No, I like it a lot. Thanks, Brother Cheng."
*But Brother Cheng, why do you care so much that I’m not going to the same high school as you? Why don't you want to lose touch during the two months of summer break? Why did you say it would be uncomfortable to chat in the living room? Why give me this charm...*
Carrying the phone he couldn't refuse, Fei Cheng was escorted home by Cheng Yifei.
Cheng Yifei dropped him off at the gate, instructing him worriedly, "I won't come in. Don't go thinking about finding some summer job. If you’re really bored, just call me, and I’ll come back to take you to Zhoucheng to hang out. You can call me for anything. I’ve already saved my number in the phone; speed dial 1 is me."
Fei Cheng lowered his head and said he understood.
Cheng Yifei wanted to hug him but didn't dare. He watched him for five or six seconds before turning his bike around. "Go on in. I'm heading back."
"Yeah. Be careful on the way back, Brother Cheng. Stay safe." Fei Cheng watched Cheng Yifei leave before turning into the courtyard. No one was home. He went back to his room and collapsed onto the bed, suddenly rolling back and forth inside his quilt.
*I don't get it, I don't get it, I don't get it!*
He took out the phone to examine it. The glossy black casing and the lack of wear on the buttons showed just how little it had been used; it really was no different from a new phone.
*Why is he so insistent on staying in touch? It couldn't be... that he likes me, right?*
Fei Cheng lay on his back, holding the phone up to look at the charm. Brother Cheng’s actions made it very easy for him to misunderstand.
A one-sided misunderstanding.
He could accept that he liked men, but Cheng Yifei might not.
Besides...
Fei Cheng rolled over and lay on his stomach. Besides, Cheng Yifei’s future achievements were beyond his reach. They weren't the same kind of people.
They were as different as clouds and mud.
Fei Cheng buried his head in the quilt. This was exactly why he didn't want to fall for Cheng Yifei. He had been restraining himself, thinking it would be fine to stay close as friends just like before. Why did Brother Cheng have to do all these unnecessary things!
*Beep-beep.*
*Beep-beep-beep.*
The QQ notification sound suddenly rang out.
Fei Cheng lifted his head from the quilt, reached for the phone, and opened it. Only one person’s group was flashing.
...
XH14: The other battery is charged. The charger's indicator light flickers a bit; if it's too bright at night, just charge it during the day.
Fei Cheng: Brother Cheng, you’re sounding more and more like my grandma.
XH14: [Fire-breathing emoji]
Fei Cheng: [Beer emoji]
XH14: [Left-humph emoji]
Fei Cheng: Brother Cheng, what time is your bus tomorrow? I'll come see you off.
XH14: No need.
Fei Cheng was rejected. His fingers hovered over the T9 keypad, unable to press down.
XH14: I’ll be back in late August.
Fei Cheng: Okay then.
XH14: [Knock on the head emoji]
Fei Cheng: Brother Cheng, my grandpa is back, I’m going down now. See ya!
He closed the flip phone without looking at Cheng Yifei’s reply and buried his head back into the quilt. *Be normal! Just be normal!!*
He hid the phone under his pillow and lay on the quilt, his mind wandering. Eventually, he drifted off to sleep.
After sleeping for over an hour, he was woken up by Fei Qi around noon for lunch.
Fei Cheng washed his face and followed the tempting aroma of food downstairs. "Grandpa, where did you all go? No one was home when I got back, even Da Hei was gone."
"Didn't your brother leave a note on the table? We went to your grand-uncle's house. Did you eat breakfast?"
"I did."
Fei Qi brought a bowl of rice and set it before him. "What was your total score?"
Fei Cheng looked up at him while picking up his chopsticks. "Hmph. Higher than yours."
Fei Qi chuckled, clearly not believing him. "Then you can get into City No. 1 High."
"Of course. If I wanted to."
Fei Qi sat down. "Can you give me a serious answer? What was your actual score?"
Fei Cheng: "670."
Fei Qi was stunned. "How much?"
Fei Cheng ignored him, serving food to his grandparents before starting to eat himself.
"The total is 690, and you got 670?" Fei Qi stared at him.
Fei Cheng: "Is there a need to be so surprised?"
Of course it was surprising. Fei Qi had scored 668 back then, which was already considered very impressive.
Fei Qi knew Fei Cheng wouldn't joke with him about this; their relationship wasn't that close...
"Then which school did you list as your preference?"
Fei Cheng didn't want to answer, but seeing his grandparents' curious gazes, he paused his chopsticks. "County No. 1 High."
Fei Qi frowned immediately. He put down his chopsticks and asked, "Your teacher didn't tell you to put down City No. 1 High?!"
Fei Cheng was getting annoyed. He shot back, "Then why didn't you choose City No. 1 High back then?"
Fei Qi looked at him for a moment before picking up his chopsticks again. "I was in the elite class at County No. 1. If I’d gone to City No. 1, I wouldn't have been ranked as high. Plus, the fees there are twice as much."
Fei Cheng: "Then why are you even asking me? Aren't you annoying?"
Fei Grandma scolded him gently while putting food in his bowl. "Chengcheng, you shouldn't talk like that. Your brother is just worried about you. Be good and speak nicely."
"I'm not. Why would he suddenly care about me? I'm not a kid, and I've already submitted my preferences. Isn't it a bit redundant to ask now?" Fei Cheng smiled at his grandmother, then glanced at Fei Qi.
Fei Grandpa huffed. "Your grandparents are still right here! You're just a kid, stop acting like a grown-up. County No. 1 High is good; it’s a fine school. Since you'll be at the same school as your brother, you can go together from now on."
Fei Cheng immediately stated his position: "No, I already promised Brother Cheng and Yu Qing that we’d go to school together. Fei Qi can go by himself. It’s best if he pretends not to know me at school. We should each mind our own business."
Fei Qi felt a sting in his heart. Those words sounded remarkably familiar.
Fei Grandpa was about to scold Fei Cheng, but Fei Grandma stopped him. There was no point in them saying more; the conflict between the brothers could only be resolved by themselves.
After lunch, the whole family sat in the living room watching *Drawing Swords*. The ceiling fan whirred overhead, and the sounds of bugles, cannons, and gunfire from the TV were constant... Just as the Independent Regiment was about to annihilate a Japanese company, the landline rang.
Fei Cheng was right next to the phone. Watching Li Yunlong argue with the political commissar, he picked up the receiver and gave a "Hello."
"Chengcheng? Why did you answer? Have you all eaten?"
Fei Cheng blinked, looked at the caller ID, and signaled for Fei Qi to turn down the TV. He raised his voice: "Mom, we just finished eating."
"Mm. Are you on break now?"
"Yeah."
"That's good. Your dad and I found a temporary job here doing packaging. Come down to Zhoucheng tomorrow to play for a couple of days, and then you can start work. It’s a two-month break; who knows where you’ll run off to if you stay home. You might as well come down to my place and earn some tuition money. Is your brother there? Let him come to the phone."
The woman's voice on the phone was incredibly natural and calm, leaving Fei Cheng unable to process it for a moment.
He knitted his brows. "You found me a temporary job?"
"Is that a problem? You're not a child anymore; it's time you experienced how hard life is! It'll stop you from spending money so recklessly all day without knowing how hard it is to earn!"
Fei Cheng was silent for a few seconds. Remembering what Cheng Yifei had said, he refused directly: "I'm not going."
"What?!"
"I said I'm not going to do some temporary packaging job. If you want to do it, do it yourself." Fei Cheng finished speaking and shoved the receiver toward Fei Qi, his expression sour.
Him wanting to find a job and his parents proactively finding one for him were two completely different concepts. In his previous life, when he wanted to work a summer job, his parents had adamantly refused, and he’d only managed it by doing it first and telling them later.
Now, they were rushing to make him "experience life." Experience my foot. I’m not doing it! Even if I were to work, I wouldn't go to their place!
Fei Qi took the phone and said, "Mom... Yeah, he's still here. What did you say to him? He doesn't want to listen. Oh..."
Fei Qi turned on the speakerphone.
Fei Mother’s voice came through the receiver, sounding very harsh. "Fei Cheng, let me tell you, it's not up to you whether you come or not! What do you plan to do at home for two months? Go out fighting and surfing the web again? If you don't come to Zhoucheng, I'll tell your grandparents not to give you a single cent! Just you try it—you know how to spend money but don't want to earn it?"
Fei Grandma felt uncomfortable hearing this. How old was her grandson that he had to go work? The family wasn't short on money. Once Chengcheng graduated, there would be plenty of time for him to work; what was the rush?
She walked over to the phone. "A-Yun, what are you doing? Chengcheng is so young; it’s not good to make him work a summer job. He hasn't been fighting or going to internet cafes; he’s been very good at home and doesn't spend much. By the way, Chengcheng scored 670 on his exams! Xiao Qi says he can get into County No. 1 High, so he’ll be at the same school as his brother again."
Fei Mother’s voice softened slightly; she was still respectful toward her mother-in-law. Suppressing her anger, she said, "Mom, did you see his attitude when he spoke to me? Does he even see me as his mother? Packaging is very simple, it’s not tiring. Let him see how hard money is to earn so he understands the point of studying."
Fei Cheng’s lips curled into a sneer. He stood up to go upstairs, throwing back a final word: "Anyway, I'm not going."
"You stop right there!" Fei Mother shouted. "Are you trying to infuriate me to death?!"
Fei Cheng stopped and looked at the landline. "You're the one trying to infuriate me, aren't you? Why don't you make Fei Qi go do a temporary job?"
"Can you even compare yourself to your brother? Huh? Your brother is in his second year of high school; his break is only three weeks long. What kind of summer job would he do!"
Fei Cheng tilted his head. "Did he go do a temporary job the summer after his middle school exams? No, right? He went to another province to play! If he didn't go as the older brother, why should I? I haven't asked you for pocket money either. If you don't want to give it to me, then don't. You might as well get a notebook and record exactly how much I've cost you since I was little. Don't worry, once I start working, I'll definitely pay you back with interest! Since you think raising me is so exhausting, why didn't you just abort me back then? Or better yet, just strangle me as soon as I was born!"
This time, Fei Mother’s voice actually cracked with rage. She brought out what she thought was her strongest threat: "Fine! You're so capable, aren't you? Don't you dare expect me or your father to buy you a cell phone!"
Didn't all kids these days desperately want a phone?
Speaking of phones, Fei Cheng thought of the flip phone under his pillow. He had no interest in current phones. He’d be at the same school as Brother Cheng and the others, so seeing them would be easy, and the school shop had a phone he could use to call home. He didn't need one at all.
He took two steps back to the landline and said, "I wasn't counting on you to buy one anyway! You're being presumptuous."
Fei Cheng strode upstairs. *As if I don't have scholarship money.*
Downstairs, the living room was a mess because of the mother and son. Fei Grandpa and Fei Grandma both felt that a child shouldn't be sent to work a summer job at that age; this was a time for studying and playing.
Fei Cheng’s parents, however, felt the child shouldn't be so pampered. Packaging wouldn't kill him. Look at how sensible other people's children were—working summer jobs to help with family expenses as soon as break started. If other people's sons could do it, why couldn't hers?
Their younger son’s personality had turned out like this largely because of the grandparents' spoiling! He had never listened to reason before, always playing dumb or causing trouble, and now he even dared to talk back to his parents! This was unacceptable!
The two sides couldn't agree. As they argued, Fei Grandpa got so angry that he declared if she wouldn't support Chengcheng, the two old folks would! That very afternoon, Fei Grandpa took his wife and walked out the door.
***
