Chapter 3
Chapter 3
There was one thing even harder than being unable to avoid Song Qi at school: having to remain his deskmate.
He and the others entered the classroom not long after I did.
When I caught him approaching from the corner of my eye, I lowered my head, stood, and pushed in my chair to let him pass.
Song Qi turned sideways and slipped into his seat.
I sat back down.
We did not meet each other’s eyes even once.
Ruan Zhiyao came over and braced one hand on my desk.
“Song Qi, we get to change seats next week.”
“When we do, can we sit by the window in the third row?”
Song Qi tapped his black gel pen against the desk, neither eager nor opposed.
“Sure.”
Ruan Zhiyao patted my shoulder with theatrical regret.
“Classmate Sang, I’m very sorry to give you some bad news.”
“I just found out that everyone else has already chosen a deskmate. But there’s an odd number of students in our class, which means… you’ll have to sit by yourself for the next two months.”
The tapping of Song Qi’s pen stopped.
I did not look up.
Still correcting the mistakes in my workbook, I said softly, “That’s fine.”
Soon after Ruan Zhiyao returned to her seat, Song Qi abruptly opened the window beside him.
Our class’s sports representative was eating breakfast behind us and let out a howl.
“What are you doing, Qi?”
“You’re making my bun cold!”
Song Qi’s eyelids drooped.
“It’s stuffy.”
I was looking forward to changing seats.
When I finally made it to Friday, I breathed a long sigh of relief.
During the break, everyone’s favorite topic became the new transfer student.
“Someone’s transferring here in senior year?”
“Yeah. I heard about it in the teachers’ office today. It’s a boy, and I caught a glimpse of his photo. Wow—he’s handsome.”
“How handsome? Better-looking than Song Qi?”
“At least just as good.”
“Then our class will have an even number of people. No one will be left without a deskmate.”
I did not give it much thought.
As long as I could get away from Song Qi, I would sit with anyone.
Near the end of the school day, rain finally began to fall from the heavy sky that had hung over us all afternoon.
It was my turn to clean the classroom.
I left nearly an hour later than everyone else.
The rain had not stopped by the time I reached the exit.
I had no umbrella, so I could only wait beneath the entrance awning.
Song Qi and Ruan Zhiyao came into view from the direction of the athletic field.
They had run through the rain.
Song Qi’s uniform jacket was draped over Ruan Zhiyao’s head, shielding her.
She pulled out two tissues and rose on tiptoe to dry his wet hair.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
“It’s all my fault. I insisted on feeding the strays at school, and now you’re soaked.”
Song Qi tilted his head away.
“It’s fine.”
“I’ll do it myself.”
The rain grew heavier.
The security guard approached, jangling a large ring of keys as he drove us out.
“I’m going home, and the school needs to be locked.”
“All three of you, hurry up and leave.”
The bus stop was still some distance from the school.
Anyone who walked there would be drenched.
My gaze landed on the guard booth by the gate. Its roof extended just far enough to shelter someone standing underneath it.
Hugging my schoolbag to my chest, I dashed into the rain.
“Sang Yu.”
I thought I heard Song Qi call my name, but the sound was quickly swallowed by the downpour.
I must have imagined it.
It was rush hour, the worst possible time to find a ride.
The app on my phone showed fifty-seven passengers ahead of me.
I sighed in frustration.
All I could do was hope the wind did not pick up.
If it did, even the narrow eaves would not keep out the rain.
Song Qi and Ruan Zhiyao soon arrived in rain ponchos.
The rain intensified, and a fierce wind came with it.
Icy droplets slanted beneath the roof and struck me.
Even with my heels pressed against the wall, I was soaked in no time.
Song Qi looked over at me and took off his poncho.
He had only taken two steps closer when a sharp ripping sound came from behind him.
Ruan Zhiyao blinked innocently.
“Oh. I tore my poncho by accident.”
“Song Qi, let me wear yours.”
“Please? I get cold so easily.”
His back went rigid.
He held the poncho for several seconds before passing it to her.
“My boyfriend is the sweetest!”
“I can tie the torn one around my shoes so they won’t get any wetter.”
“Rainwater is so dirty. I don’t want it touching me at all.”
Once she had wrapped herself from head to toe, she turned and smiled at me.
“Don’t I look like a silly bear?”
“Sang Yu, you should stand farther inside. Then you won’t get quite as wet.”