CH 4

Chapter 4 – White Peach Oolong

Seeing the gift box in front of her, the girl was stunned.

“Thank you.” Yue Zhishi said solemnly, “But since I was young, my family has taught me not to casually accept gifts, especially from girls, so that I won’t take their feelings for granted. I’m sorry but I have to return this to you.”

Yue Zhishi’s eyes had very obvious Caucasian characteristics with softer contours and his hair was also a warm brown colour which shines golden under the sun, making him appear pure and soft. His external appearance gave people the impression that he was someone easy to get along with, easy to capture and easy to persuade, but this was actually not the case.

The stubborn Yue Zhishi would often be too serious.

The girl’s expression was a little upset but she had also expected this. She hesitated a little over taking back her gift, “But I….”

She opened her mouth but stopped.

“It looks expensive. You must’ve spent a long time picking it out.” Yue Zhishi insisted and stretched his arms out more, making her accept it, “Your writing is very nice. I think its more suitable for you to use.”

Upon hearing this, the girl looked up. Using praise instead of rejection made it hard for her to even feel sad.

But she was still somewhat unwilling, “Do you have someone you like?”

Please read this from kk translates

Yue Zhishi was taken aback.

Someone he likes.

He likes a lot of people; for example Aunt Rong and Uncle Song, for example the owner of the rice noodle store who would give him two extra pieces of beef every time he ordered the vegetarian option and for example Mr. Zhang from drawing class who gifted him comic books and drawing tools…..There were too many. Countless examples appeared in Yue Zhishi’s mind.

But if he were to narrow it down to people he likes the most, the number of examples shrink significantly.

But they still didn’t seem to be the same as the like the girl in front of him was referring to.

“You don’t?” The girl asked.

Yue Zhishi put on his bag and paused for a moment, “No, I don’t want to date right now. It’s almost time for exams. If my grade drops, my parents will be called over.”

Seeing that the girl still looked upset, Yue Zhishi added, “We can still be friends.”

“Really?”

“I don’t lie.” Yue Zhishi readjusted the bag on his back, “It’s so hot. Isn’t there a vending machine downstairs? I’ll treat you guys to a drink.”

“I want Coke!” Jiang Yufan didn’t hesitate. He glanced down and saw that Song Yu was still there, leaning against the tree with his arms crossed in front of him and earphones in his ear. At this moment, he was staring up at them.

Jiang Yufan couldn’t help but shudder. He quickly nudged Yue Zhishi with his elbow.

“Le, look downstairs.”

Yue Zhishi turned his head and saw Song Yu’s figure through the railing.

It was as if he was suddenly injected with stimulants. Yue Zhishi immediately turned around and leaned half his body out past the railing while supporting himself with both hands, but when he called out ‘ge’, it was with a very small and almost airy voice.

He was like an excited little puppy who wanted to pounce but is hesitant to do it.

The girl looked at Yue Zhishi’s excited face and felt that he was completely different from how he was when he rejected her confession just now.

Song Yu who was leaning against the camphor tree lowered his arms and approached his bicycle that was parked under the tree. He kicked away the kickstand and seemed to be about to ride off.

Yue Zhishi was anxious. He grabbed his bag and wanted to go down, but he then remembered his promise of buying them drinks so he said frantically, “I’ll go down and buy it for you now.”

He hurried downstairs. Fortunately, Song Yu hadn’t left yet. Yue Zhishi quickly ran to the vending machine and first selected three cans of Coke but hesitated for a moment when he was about to pay and changed it to two cans of Coke and a bottle of white peach soda. Jiang Yufan and them just happened to arrive downstairs at this moment. Yue Zhishi hurriedly placed two cans of Coke on the vending machine, gestured frantically to Jiang Yufan while pointing at the vending machine and then turned and ran towards Song Yu.

Through the gaps between the leaves, the small spots of light cast on his panting red face was very pretty. After calming his breathing, Yue Zhishi smiled and called out Song Yu gege and then brushed back his hair.

“What are you running for?” Song Yu only glanced at him. He was still wearing his earphones.

Because I was afraid that you would leave.

He had an allergic reaction and even exposed their relationship in front of so many people, messing up Song Yu’s speech in the process. After all that mess, he was afraid that Song Yu would ignore him.

Yue Zhishi stuffed the cold soda in Song Yu’s hand. When giving it to him, he noticed the watch on Song Yu’s left wrist. It was a gift from him.

When he was ten years old, the little model for Lin Rong’s photographer friend fell ill and Yue Zhishi was brought over as emergency replacement. It was also because of this that he was given a reward. Ling Rong’s philosophy was to let children be free so she encouraged Yue Zhishi to spend it however he wanted.

When a child receives a red envelope, their first reaction would be to buy toys and snacks. Little Yue Zhishi went to the mall alone for several days before finally buying a beautiful watch.

It was because Song Yu’s birthday was in two days.

That was his first time spending his own money to buy a gift. When he was a child, he felt that it was very expensive but, thinking about it now, that watch wasn’t a from a famous brand and the style was also simple. It wasn’t like the electronic watches popular amongst the students and was neither cool nor complicated.

Since young, Song Yu would often receive ‘gifts’ from Yue Zhishi. Things like a manually glued ‘rare’ four leaf clover, Le Le coupons that he could use to order Yue Zhishi to do anything such as running errands if he collects ten, a hand drawn desk calendar……

But when he first received this gift, Song Yu’s first reaction was to refuse it and even dragged Yue Zhishi to the mall where he bought the watch.

At that time, Song Yu had just entered first year of junior high school, but when he stood at the counter handling the return procedures, he was like an adult. Only Yue Zhishi alone was crying. He even sat on the ground holding Song Yu’s leg wailing like he was the one whose gift was being returned.

It was a pity that this memory was too vague. As for why Song Yu was so adamant about refusing this gift and why he changed his mind later and accepted it, Yue Zhishi no longer remembered.

He was a little curious about it but after some thought, he decided not to ask. He had just had an asthmatic attack and he should be grateful that he wasn’t being scolded. Now wasn’t a good time to ask about this.

Song Yu unscrewed the lid, took a sip and then gave it back to him. Only then did Yue Zhishi return to his senses.

“Song Yu gege, did you wait long?”

“Just came.” Song Yu stepped on the pedal.

Please read this from kk translates

Yue Zhishi took the initiative to report to him the results from his check up, “I’m fine now. I also took some medicine earlier.”

“I can see that you’re fine.” Song Yu said.

Yue Zhishi didn’t sense anything wrong with that line and continued, “Fortunately you were around, or I may not have made it.”

He said the last few words very seriously, but it also wasn’t an exaggeration. Although he brought his own food to eat in elementary school, a child of his age was still unaware of how serious allergies can be. At that time, there were several serious incidents and Song Yu who was in the same school saved him every time.

He didn’t know how many times this life of his had been saved by Song Yu. Sometimes Yue Zhishi would think of those clips he saw of small animals repaying kindness and wondered what kind of animal he would be in his next life.

It would be nice if he was a little cotton candy-like Pomeranian with a small tag around his neck.

Thinking of the tag, Yue Zhishi suddenly remembered what happened at the school gates this morning, “You saved me twice today.”

Song Yu didn’t scold him like he thought but he didn’t say anything else and just got ready to leave. Yue Zhishi noticed this and immediately sat down on the back seat. When Song Yu turned his head to look at him, he raised his head, “My bike is parked at the school gate. Getting a ride until we reach it.”

He didn’t agree or refuse. Yue Zhishi waved goodbye to Jiang Yufan and the girl who stood not far away, “I’ll head off first.”

Jiang Yufan felt that there seemed to be some joy concealed in his voice.

When he first found out that Song Yu and Yue Zhishi were brothers, he wondered why the two didn’t reveal this relationship to others. Recalling the time when the two acted like they had no relationship with other, he even felt that Song Yu was too indifferent.

But if he put himself in that situation, how would he explain his relationship with Yue Zhishi?

No matter how he explained, he couldn’t escape the topic of Yue Zhishi’s parents.

Gossip can hurt people without drawing blood. Sometimes, silence was the best form of protection.

Riding out, the wind gently swept past their faces.

This reminded Yue Zhishi of the time he sat on Song Yu’s back seat when he was a child. The Song Yu at the time had just learned to ride a bicycle and the first person he took around was him. At first they were both very happy. Little Yue Zhishi held his brother’s waist and raised his legs up high yelling: Faster, faster.

Later, they fell. Yue Zhishi’s knees were cut and bloody and since then Song Yu stopped letting him ride with him.

Almost reaching the school gate, Yue Zhishi was worried that Song Yu would stop and make him ride his own bicycle, so he tried to think of an excuse.

His chain fell? Not good, too fake.

Not enough air? Probably won’t work either.

Or should he say that his asthma still hasn’t fully recovered, and his chest feels tight so he can’t ride his bike?

Finally thinking of a good excuse, he looked up only to see that they are now far from the school gates. Song Yu hadn’t stopped. He may have forgotten what he said earlier, Yue Zhishi thought.

At the traffic lights, Song Yu stopped. Cars passed by before them one after another.

A layer of water droplets condensed on the surface of the bottle, turning it into a bottle of soda with a guilty conscience.

“Song Yu gege, did Teacher Wang call Aunt Rong?”

Song Yu didn’t respond. Perhaps he didn’t hear him.

Although Song Yu usually doesn’t talk to him all that much, Yue Zhishi could detect the subtle changes in his emotions. Right now, he seemed to be unhappy.

Was it because his allergic reaction after eating the wrong thing caused him trouble?

Then why did he come see him?

Probably to make sure he was okay, or he wouldn’t be able to explain to Aunt Rong later.

“Song Yu gege…..” While the lights were still red, Yue Zhishi gently took out one of Song Yu’s earphones and spoke placatingly, “Can you not tell Aunt Rong about what happened today? She will definitely lecture me about it.”

The traffic lights flashed one after another, making it look even more guilty.

“About what?” Song Yu suddenly said.

Yue Zhishi was a little confused, “Huh?”

The bicycle wheel started to move again. Driven by inertia, Yue Zhishi’s body couldn’t help but lean back, the earphone cable becoming a fragile link between the two. In panic, he instinctively held tightly onto Song Yu’s waist and he could also hear his voice which sounded like it was conducted through his warm body.

“Are you referring to you eating the wrong food and not bringing your medicine with you, you almost falling into shock at the opening ceremony.”

The September sun was still blinding.

“Or dating?”