Chapter 37: Don’t Be Sad 1

Chapter 37: Don't Be Sad 1

Days spent with Gu Jiabei always flew by quickly, even when they did nothing at all. Before they knew it, it was time for school to start again. The bicycle still stood downstairs, but with the colder weather, it wasn't as convenient to ride. So, the two of them took the bus, which was filled with students due to the start of the semester. Many people on the bus were acquaintances of Yun He and Gu Jiabei, and they happily chatted about the amusing incidents that occurred during their winter break. Gu Jiabei didn't say much, mostly watching Yun He interact playfully with others.

Upon reaching their stop, the group of students ran excitedly towards the campus.

Gu Jiabei tugged on Yun He's collar from behind, forcing him to stop and turn around.

"What's up?" Yun He asked.

Gu Jiabei released his grip, pouted for a moment or two before responding, "Nothing."

"Then why did you pull my collar?"

"Because I can," Gu Jiabei said, looking straight ahead, and continued walking forward.

"What's gotten into you so early in the morning?" Yun He walked alongside Gu Jibei, a puzzled look on his face.

Gu Jiabei let out a soft sigh but remained silent.

"Feeling down?" Yun He asked, leaning in closer.

"No, we're almost late. Hurry up," Gu Jiabei urged, looping his arm around Yun He's neck to propel him forward.

Each of them entered their respective classrooms.

Yun He was immediately surrounded by Lin Yong and Wang Xiaomi, who chatted incessantly as soon as he returned to the classroom. Zheng Han also came over to have a brief conversation with Yun He while collecting the winter vacation homework. Amidst the lively greetings, Yun He quickly forgot about the slight sigh of abnormality from Gu Jiabei in the morning.

Only Gu Jiabei returned to the classroom and sat silently, not uttering a word. His deskmate tried engaging him in conversation a few times but, noticing his distant state, eventually left him alone.

Gu Jiabei frowned as he observed the lively chatter among his classmates in the classroom, memories of Yun He's jovial interactions with others on the bus that morning weighing heavily on his mind. An indescribable discomfort stirred within him. With his hands casually in his pockets, he sat coolly at his desk, a detached expression masking the turmoil brewing beneath the surface.

Yes, he, Gu Jiabei, was feeling jealous.

This was an unfamiliar sensation for Gu Jiabei, who had never experienced jealousy before. It was an emotion he couldn't control, one that tethered his happiness, anger, and sadness to another person's actions. This feeling was both strange and oddly satisfying.

During the time apart from Yun He over the holiday, he had noticed a growing concern and longing for the other boy. However, he had deliberately avoided acknowledging these feelings. He knew that becoming too immersed in someone or something could make one a slave in a sense, unable to govern their own emotions freely. Gu Jiabei disliked such vulnerability. He preferred to live without constraints, unburdened by attachments. But it seemed that he, Gu Jiabei, might no longer be capable of returning to that state.

He let out a soft sigh.

"Every morning, either you're icy-faced or sighing endlessly. I know starting school is tough, but is it that painful for someone as studious as you?" Yun He's desk mate couldn't hold back any longer and teased Gu Jiabei with a grin.

"Desire is the root of suffering. Without wants or desires, there would be no pain," Gu Jiabei chuckled at himself before diving into his textbook.

Staring at Gu Jiabei for a while, his desk mate finally said, "Damn, after not seeing you for a holiday, you've become a philosopher all of a sudden..."

Thus, Philosopher Gu donned his scholarly glasses and diligently worked on math problems throughout the morning study session.

Due to the still chilly weather, the school canceled the opening ceremony, opting instead to have each class remain in their classrooms. The school leaders conveyed the usual motivational speeches through the public address system, causing students to doze off in their seats.

However, as they were in the second half of their fourth year, the upcoming high school entrance exam was emphasized. The school leaders stressed the importance of studies for the fourth-year students.

Looking out the window at the desolate playground, Yun He thought about how Gu Jiabei would be attending high school in half a year. Then, they'd attend different schools, likely only meeting at night and on weekends.

Yun He's mood was as bleak as the chilly spring scenery outside.

When the forsythia flowers along the road bloomed, Gu Jiabei rode his bicycle, carrying Yun He through the city's streets. They enjoyed many street snacks and held hands discreetly multiple times. Time trickled by steadily as Gu Jiabei's collection of practice exercises grew thicker, while Yun He, faced with impending separation, became increasingly clingy.

Lin Yong's pursuit of Jiang Lingling continued, but without any significant progress.

Gu Wei's visits home became less and less frequent.

Lu Angyu's updates on social media slowed down considerably.

Zhao Ming's mischievous antics increased, but he still didn't dare do anything to Gu Jiabei. They would exchange a few words when they crossed paths in the hallway, but Gu Jiabei always ignored him.

Everyone's lives continued on as before, seemingly unchanged, yet upon closer inspection, something seemed to be shifting, albeit subtly and gradually, making it hard to perceive.

"Sigh, sigh, sigh. Handsome is truly handsome – even standing in detention looks good on him," Wang Xiaomi whispered during a Chinese literature class, hiding her phone within her textbook while ogling the screen.

Yun He was long accustomed to Wang Xiaomi's intermittent bouts of infatuation and thus didn't spare her any extra attention.

After a while, Wang Xiaomi stealthily nudged her phone under Yun He's nose. Yun He saw that for the Nth time, Gu Jiabei's photo filled Wang Xiaomi's screen, another candid shot, but this time with higher resolution. In the picture, Gu Jiabei leaned against the wall in the corridor, his posture relaxed with one hand in his pocket and the other fiddling with his phone. His head was down, but his tall figure still commanded attention.

Yun He swiped through the screen and discovered that the photo had been shared in a school gossip group. Someone in the group mentioned that Gu Jiabei had been sent to stand in the corridor, likely because he had been caught playing with his phone during class and reprimanded by the teacher. Instead of complying, Gu Jiabei had stood up and volunteered to go stand in detention, leaving the classroom under the watchful eyes of the entire class.

The teacher probably hadn't anticipated such a response from Gu Jiabei, but out of politeness allowed him to leave for detention.

Yun He wasn't sure what had transpired with Gu Jiabei, but he knew that Gu Jiabei wasn't the type to provoke conflict with teachers over using his phone in class. Amidst the teacher's animated reading and the startled gazes of the classmates, Yun He rose to his feet.

"Reporting," Yun He said.

"Yun He, what's the matter?" The Chinese literature teacher was a refined middle-aged man with a gentle tone.

"I'm feeling a bit drowsy, Teacher. I'd like to stand in the corridor for a while," Yun He replied.

"Damn..." Wang Xiaomi gasped.

Lin Yong turned back, looking at Yun He questioningly.

"Oh, I see..." The literature teacher hadn't expected such a request from Yun He. He frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, it's better to go out and freshen up than to force yourself to sit here."

"Thank you, Teacher," Yun He said obediently.

Wang Xiaomi got up to make space for Yun He. As Yun He passed by her, she mumbled under her breath, "Desk mate, you're something else..."

Exactly what that 'something else' was, Yun He had no idea. All he knew was that when he stood in the corridor, Gu Jiabei was indeed standing there as well, albeit at the other end. There were two classrooms between them. Yun He watched as Gu Jiabei still had one hand in his pocket and held his phone with the other.

Yun He took out his phone and tapped on the screen a few times. Then he noticed Gu Jiabei looking up in his direction.

In the midst of the teacher's resonant reading, Yun He silently waved his arm towards Gu Jiabei.

Yun He's phone vibrated gently, signaling a message from Gu Jiabei.

The previous text he had sent to Gu Jiabei read, "Look to your left!"

Gu Jiabei's reply was simply, "?"

"I'm here with you now, Gu Jiabei," Yun He responded.

Instead of texting back, Gu Jibei walked directly over to Yun He. As he passed by other classrooms, curious classmates covertly craned their necks to watch Gu Jiabei stroll past their windows. However, Gu Jiabei's profile quickly vanished from sight, until he stood beside Yun He, leaning against the wall together.

With a frown, Gu Jiabei looked at the grinning Yun He and whispered, "What's going on with you?"

"I should be the one asking you, what's up? You got detention for playing with your phone?" Yun He whispered back, his smile fading gradually.