CH 16

Fu Jia didn’t even take two steps before Big Head responded and quickly dragged him back: “What are you doing?”

“I……” Fu Jia stopped and explained in hurry: “I’m going to look for a friend.”

Big Head didn’t believe this at all: “Friend? Those seniors over there are your friends?”

Fu Jia’s heart throbbed from his words. He and Lu Qi’an couldn’t be described as friends. When Big Head questioned him, it was too quick for him to come up with an answer so he said whatever came to his mind. Even though they weren’t friends, they spoke a couple of times before, so looking for him wasn’t something bad, right?

“Not a friend, but there's a bit of friendship……No, it can’t be counted as friendship……” The more Fu Jia explained, the more uncertain and impulsive he felt. Lu Qi’an only glanced at him, and blood rushed to his head, forcing him to run towards him. What did this mean?

Big Head was amused by his confused appearance: “What is it? Fine, fine, fine. I understand, you have no friendship with others but want to cultivate it, right?” He patted Fu Jia’s shoulder and comforted him: “No problems, I’ll help you next time. Tell me, which senior do you want to know?”

Fu Jia didn’t reply, but turned his head to look at Lu Qi’an and found him looking at another direction as if their previous stare was only Fu Jia’s illusion.

Lu Qi’an had come to No.16 High to look for him at the end of May, and he has never seen him again ever since.

He didn’t look for him, because he couldn’t help think of the last time Lu Qi’an scolded him: “Why are you going crazy?’”, then slamming the door as he left. It made him completely muddleheaded.

Fu Jia thought for a while and said to Big Head: “Do you know Senior Qi’an? I want to get familiar with him.”

“Ah?” Big Head froze at the name.

Fu Jia was afraid he didn’t hear it clearly and repeated, “Lu Qi’an.” He didn’t notice it, but he enunciated the three words heavily, almost to the point of gnashing his teeth.

Big Head gave a hollow laugh: “This is a little difficult……”

Fu Jia realised Big Head’s embarrassment, but didn’t lose hope: “It’s fine, thank you, Big Head. I can think of a way myself.”

“Wait, wait,” Big Head appeared solemn, “Fu Jia, I’ll try this time. To tell you the truth, I got to know others at mealtimes and can be regarded as the leader of communication. The only blank I have is Senior Lu, but since you asked me for help this time, I’ll try.”

When Big Head’s friends heard him say this, their expressions became grave: “Big Head, this is not a joke.”

Big Head lowered his head, his expression a little empty: “If I provoked him, I won’t be able to hang out in school anymore, so you guys can’t abandon me.”

The friends looked at each other as if they would definitely run far away.

Big Head exploded, he started grabbing people to beat and the boys instantly shouted. They were bustling with noise and excitement, just like how they played before.

Before joining them, Fu Jia looked at Lu Qi’an’s direction again.

Lu Qi’an wasn’t there anymore.

Fu Jia was unable to voice out his disappointment. He looked all around and surveyed the entire courts. He eyes penetrated the crowds, and looked at each person, but couldn’t find him.

“What are you looking at, come here!” Big Head shouted at him.

Only then did Fu Jia return to his senses.

He played with Big Head until sunset, most people on the basketball courts were gone. He didn't know when those people who had played with Lu Qi’an left. When they left, many onlookers went as well, and the entire court looked deserted.

Fu Jia’s thoughts didn’t stray far from the three words, ‘Lu Qi’an’; it came and went away repetitively. He couldn’t help ask Big Head: “Listening to your description, Lu Qi’an seems fearful?”

Big Head let his friends leave first, and stayed on the court to chat with Fu Jia. He nodded vigorously: “He’s very fearful. Can you imagine this; a teacher often asked him to help write the papers for the lower grades. The difficulty makes people wish they were dead.”

Fu Jia recalled the questions Lu Qi’an wrote for him, it seemed nothing terrifying.

“That’s it?”

“Isn’t it enough? He’s more fearful than any teacher at No.6 High, how horrible do you want him to be?” Big Head said, “Let me tell you, Senior Lu made it clear that he didn’t want to bother making friends with us, so who else would dare to approach him?”

Fu Jia smiled.

This was the case.

He was the only one who was brave enough to pull the tiger’s beard again and again.

After they talked, Big Head went home and Fu Jia returned to the dorms.

On the way, he tried to recall if Lu Qi’an was as terrible as Big Head described, and the answer was no.

Although Lu Qi’an always spoke coldly to him and ignored him, Fu Jia never thought he was fearful. The reason was probably that he had seen Lu Qi’an treating Lin Fengxun gently many times before.

There were too many, too many times, that when he closed his eyes he always accidentally enter those memories.

Since Big Head agreed to help, Fu Jia temporarily endured it and concentrated on studying. Coincidently, there was something that fried his brains.

No.6 High had weekly tests.

When Fu Jia heard about this for the first time, his lost attitude surprised Big Head: “What, didn’t you take the tests when you were a freshman?’

Fu Jia remembered he had to conceal his transfer student identity, so he casually said: “I thought would be different for sophomores.”

“You’re thinking too much, “ Big Head forced a smile, “At a place like No.6, it’s good enough there are no daily tests.”

Fu Jia grabbed a handful of hair in irritation, “What is normally tested on the first week?”

Big Head recalled: “It should be similar to freshman year. That time, we were tested on primary school knowledge and what was taught during the first week. It should be the same this time, we should be tested on what we learnt last year.”

Fu Jia’s head expanded: “Are there key points?”

The way Big Head looked at him was not right: “We’ve been back for a week, and you still want to know the key point? Everything is a key point.”

Fu Jia had to shut up.

This week, Fu Jia had to struggle keeping up with the fast and strict rhythm of No.6 High’s teachers, and find time to review the freshman content. Every night, his lamp was on until two in the morning.

If it weren’t for Big Head’s timely information, he would have found an opportunity to help Fu Jia meet Lu Qi’an already. Fu Jia couldn’t keep delaying it.

Fu Jia was working on questions while Big Head chattered nonstop: “Do you remember what I told you last time, that a teacher often asks Lu Qi’an for help to write questions for the lower grades? That teacher is actually our school director, Mrs Liu. She seems to be familiar with Lu Qi’an, every time he helps her out with the papers, she’ll eat with him at the staff canteen.” Big Head continued, “According to reliable sources, the Director will ask Senior Lu for help tomorrow.”

As he spoke, Big Head moved closer to Fu Jia and unconsciously lowered his voice: “When Senior Lu and the Director are having their lunch, we can pretend to meet them by chance…”

Big Head proudly repeated his plans and waited for Fu Jia to praise him.

But, Fu Jia just nodded and replied: “Let’s do it.”

The two looked at each other, Big Head pretend to be confused while Fu Jia was really confused.

This made Big Head feel strange.

Fu Jia’s reaction was different from what he expected. He always thought Fu Jia and his goal were the same: To be friends with Lu Qi’an.

Many students wanted to make friends with Lu Qi’an, especially Big Head. He had tried many times before but to no avail. Once he did it too obviously and was taught a lesson by Li Qinhe, he suffered a lot from it.

He stayed at a respectful distance from Lu Qi’an from then on, and always wanted to get close but didn’t dare to try. This time it was Fu Jia who wanted this, not him, so he could relax.

But Fu Jia……seemed to not realise what he was doing.

At noon the next day, Big Head led Fu Jia into the staff canteen. It wasn’t massive and had a few unoccupied seats. In order to be inconspicuous, Big Head and Fu Jia waited for the Director and Lu Qi’an in the corner with their plates.

After ten or so minutes, a lady in professional attired walked in with Lu Qi’an beside her.

Fu Jia watched them take their seats and suddenly felt a little nervous.

The Director stayed on her seat, while Lu Qi’an got up and went to order food. Big Head seized this opportunity and walked over with his food.

Fu Jia quickly followed.

“Mrs Liu, what a coincidence!” Big Head exaggerated.

Mrs Liu was puzzled when she saw Big Head. After thinking for a few seconds, she realised that Big Head was her student, and said with a smile: “I don’t think it’s a coincidence, why did you sneak into the staff canteen?”

Big Head scratched his head: “Isn’t the food better at the staff canteen, I wanted to try it. It’s such a rare chance, Mrs Liu, let’s sit and eat together.”

Mrs Liu glanced at Lu Qi’an and bluntly refused: “It’s fine to just greet each other. I brought another student for lunch, so don’t trouble me.”

Big Head pretended to not understand: “Mrs Liu, you can’t be like this.” He pushed Fu Jia forward and said: “This student really admires you, Mrs Liu, and wants to have a meal with you. Please give him face this time.”

Fu Jia, who was used as a shield for no reason, showed a stiff smile and nodded in cooperation.

Mrs Liu was troubled, she looked at Lu Qi’an and he had finished ordering and noticed the events here.

Lu Qi’an glimpsed at Big Head, and Big Head swallowed back the name, ‘Senior Lu’.

Lu Qi’an picked up the food and walked over, his gaze skipped over Big Head and landed on Fu Jia.

At this moment, Fu Jia truly experienced the word cowardly.

What should he say? Would Lu Qi’an be angry or not?

“Sorry Qi’an, should we find another place?” Mrs Liu suggested.

“It’s fine.” Lu Qi’an put down the food and sat beside Mrs Liu, “Let’s eat together.”

Mrs Liu was surprised, but as long as Lu Qi’an said it was fine, she had no qualms about it.

Big Head smiled happily and sat down. When he saw Fu Jia dillydallying, he reached for his food and placed it opposite to Lu Qi’an.

The dishes Fu Jia picked were his usual ones. Whether it was at No.16 or No.6 High, or the student or staff canteen, all his three dishes were vegetarian. This was because it’s compulsory to have at least three dishes, otherwise, Fu Jia would only order one.

Out of the four, only Fu Jia’s food was bright green. Mrs Liu and Big Head thought nothing was wrong, that it was Fu Jia’s dietary habits. After Lu Qi’an saw Fu Jia’s dishes, he asked: “Why is it all vegetables?”

“Ah?” Fu Jia didn’t dare to confirm that Lu Qi’an to talking to him.

Lu Qi’an stopping talking, he pushed the untouched plate towards Fu Jia and stood up: “I’ll order another one, please wait.”

This was a weird moment.

Mrs Liu and Big Head, who had no relationships, looked at each other like comrade-in-arms, their eyes filled with the same question marks.