Chapter 20

Chapter 20

When Chen Mo returned to the dormitory, Sun Qi and Tang Suishan, who had gone home for the weekend, were already back, sorting their things.

"Brother Mo." Seeing him enter, Sun Qi pulled out a transparent plastic jar from his backpack and handed it to him, smiling. "These are walnuts from my hometown. I saw in the group chat that you were hospitalized due to your stomach issues. Walnuts with brown sugar can help nourish the stomach. My mom specially asked me to bring some for you. Don't be too picky."

Chen Mo was taken aback before reaching out to take the large jar.

"…Thanks. Please also thank your mom for me."

"Don't mention it," Sun Qi waved his hand with a smile. "Thanks to you, I don't have to share a room with Li Rui anymore. You're a good person, pretty lucky."

Chen Mo really didn't know what to say.

He hadn't stayed in this mixed dormitory for many days, but ever since Li Rui moved out, the dormitory had been kept quite clean. With fewer people, it also felt more spacious.

Sun Qi was one of those honest guys.

In the past, he had been bullied badly by Li Rui. He was the type who would repay even a small kindness a hundredfold.

Chen Mo placed the jar on his desk and then turned to say, "I should be moving out."

"Huh??"

Not only Sun Qi, but even Tang Suishan, who rarely spoke, looked over.

"Why?" Sun Qi asked, puzzled.

Tang Suishan thought more deeply, "Is it because you publicly said you're gay?"

Sun Qi was even more confused. "Gay?"

Chen Mo couldn't help but rub his forehead.

He now believed what Lao Gou had said: this matter would eventually spread throughout the school.

Seeing that the two were genuinely curious without any other intentions, Chen Mo explained, "It's not moving out, just changing rooms. There's an empty bed in the experimental class dormitory now."

"Oh." Sun Qi looked disappointed. "Do you have to move?"

Chen Mo also wondered if he really had to move?

Especially when he saw the scattered items on his desk, the two pairs of shoes still wet on the windowsill, and the clothes he hadn't washed before leaving yesterday, his doubt grew deeper.

Taking out his phone, he took a couple of photos and found the recently added contact, clicking send.

Silence is Not Gold, It's Your Grandpa: "Photo"

Silence is Not Gold, It's Your Grandpa: "Photo"

Silence is Not Gold, It's Your Grandpa: "Do you know what's the cruelest thing for someone who hates tidying up? Moving dorms."

The person on the other end seemed busy and replied after about five minutes.

XSY: "Don't tell me you haven't started yet?"

XSY: "Photo"

XSY: "What's that in the corner of your photo?"

Chen Mo replied instantly.

Silence is Not Gold, It's Your Grandpa: "Your eyesight is bad; it's nothing."

XSY: "No smoking in 413."

XSY: "You'd better not let me see it again."

Chen Mo sighed and didn't reply further.

Chen Mo had been smoking since he was fourteen.

His first cigarette was a ten-yuan pack of Hongtashan. That was also the first time he beat Chen Jianli so badly that he couldn't get up.

When he picked up the red-packaged cigarettes Chen Jianli had dropped, took one out, and put it in his mouth with trembling hands, the pungent taste made him cough. But from that moment, he felt like he could start controlling his life.

That feeling was addictive.

Over the years, he had smoked countless expensive brands, but he still found the taste of cheap cigarettes alluring.

Now, things were different.

Chen Mo consciously controlled himself. The pack of cigarettes he had bought at the internet cafe, which was still half full, was something he would never have done in the past when he was heavily addicted.

But there was no way around it.

With a damaged stomach, he couldn't push it too hard, and quitting completely was inevitable.

Chen Mo spent nearly an hour packing everything up.

Before noon, he went to Room 413.

Opening the door, he saw a half-naked person inside.

"Sorry." Chen Mo instinctively stepped back to close the door.

"No, come in." Qi Lin, wearing shorts barely covering his hips, roughly rubbed his hair while saying, "Old Xi said you were moving down here. Bring your stuff in."

Chen Mo recognized him and walked in. "Just you?"

"Yep, they're not here."

Chen Mo looked around the dormitory. The overall environment was much better than he had imagined. There were six beds, but only four of them currently had belongings on them. Boys generally had simpler personal items, so there was plenty of empty space.

Chen Mo pointed at two nearby beds and asked, "Which one should I take?"

"Either one is fine," Qi Lin said indifferently. "These two beds were originally for Xi Siyan and Yang Shule, but neither of them has ever stayed here. Xi Siyan occasionally comes back to shower after playing ball and brings his clothes. As for Yang Shule..." Qi Lin paused for a moment before continuing, "In short, he won't be moving in again. You can choose whichever bed you want. Also, Xi Siyan might come later; he still needs to go home to get some things."

Chen Mo chose the bed closer to the balcony. He had assumed that Xi Siyan wouldn't be staying there at night, but upon hearing the last sentence, he paused while putting away his suitcase. "He's also staying here?"

"What else?" Qi Lin laughed. "Do you really think living in this so-called top-achievers' dorm will suddenly boost your grades? Since Xi Siyan agreed to Principal Lai, you need to be mentally prepared."

"For what?"

"His teaching methods might be, well... a bit extreme?"

Chen Mo didn't take these words to heart.

Whether or not the methods were extreme, he was the one who would be learning. As for how he would perform, Chen Mo couldn't guarantee anything.

Chen Mo spent some time organizing his belongings.

By the time he finished, it was already past twelve. He and Qi Lin headed to the cafeteria for lunch.

On their way out, they ran into two tall guys returning: Jiang Xu and Bai Cheng. They had met before; they were part of the group that often played ball with Xi Siyan.

After exchanging greetings, Qi Lin and Chen Mo left first.

"They're all pretty easy to get along with," Qi Lin said as they went down the stairs. "Except for the one you haven't met yet, Xue Ping. Do you remember him?"

Chen Mo thought for a moment. "The one in the fifth row from the right?"

"Wow, good memory."

Chen Mo didn't consider this a compliment.

In the past, he hadn't known many people and barely remembered any faces after graduation because he never paid attention. Now, after so long, if he still couldn't recognize everyone, he might have a problem.

Qi Lin continued, "Xue Ping isn't really problematic. You know, in any school, there's always someone who's second-best under someone like Xi Siyan. Unfortunately, that's him. And I feel like he's become obsessed with studying. He doesn't talk to anyone, just mumbles to himself, always aiming to surpass Xi Siyan. Even though he's the second-best in the grade, he's practically invisible. Yet you managed to notice him."

Chen Mo was thinking that in his previous life, he might have been seen similarly by others, even worse than Xue Ping.

At least he wasn't the second-best in the grade. The most notable thing about him was his relationship with Yang Shule, which was described as a "mistaken identity." He was deeply immersed in himself, indifferent to everything around him.

Now, recalling those details, he couldn't remember much.

He didn't remember the changing seasons of the tree beneath the classroom building, nor the passage of time on the playground. He also didn't recall the crowded cafeteria at No. 1 High School.

"Have you never eaten before?" Qi Lin finally couldn't hold back his frustration after being stepped on for the third time.

Chen Mo stood in front of him and moved forward, deciding to distance himself from this loudmouth.

Qi Lin, oblivious, put his arm around Chen Mo's shoulder and continued yelling, "Queue up! What's the rush?"

Chen Mo turned back. "Don't you realize everyone is looking at us?"

"So what if they do?"

Chen Mo didn't bother arguing.

But when he heard two excited girls whispering in the queue next to them, "That's Chen Mo from Grade 2, right? He looks better in person! Is the guy next to him his boyfriend? ... Oh my god, this is the first time I've seen real gay people in real life!"

Chen Mo: "..."

He wanted to say, "Thanks, but no thanks."

In the end, he just picked a few dishes and left early, finding a less conspicuous spot to sit.

Soon, Qi Lin came over.

Chen Mo saw Qi Lin place a tray opposite him and was surprised. "Didn't you go back?"

"I came back," Xi Siyan replied, glancing at him while opening a pair of disposable chopsticks.

He was still wearing the same clothes he had worn coming down from the mountain that morning. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and the button at his collar was undone. His presence instantly overshadowed Qi Lin's beside him.

Chen Mo responded with an "Oh" and continued eating without comment.

The food in the No. 1 High School cafeteria was actually decent.

However, the doctor had advised him to avoid certain foods for the next couple of days. So, Chen Mo chose tomato and egg, stir-fried broccoli, and carrot and meat stir-fry.

None of the dishes were particularly flavorful, but he didn't enjoy them much.

Qi Lin was texting someone beside him.

When he sent a sweet voice message saying, "Baby, are you eating?"

"Are you dating someone?" Chen Mo asked, holding a piece of broccoli in his mouth.

Qi Lin looked up, grinning mischievously, and whispered, "Don't tell anyone. We're still in the flirting stage; I haven't confessed yet."

Chen Mo felt nauseated.

He wondered if this guy had been fooling around since high school?

"You..." Chen Mo was about to say something but decided against it and picked up his soup to drink instead.

Qi Lin picked up his phone and waved it in front of Chen Mo and Xi Siyan, saying, "How about that? Pretty good, right? We met online and have only been chatting for a month."

When the photo reached Chen Mo, he choked on a mouthful of soup.

"Female?" Chen Mo coughed out.

Qi Lin asked curiously, "Why are you so shocked? It's not like I'm into guys like you. I have no interest in men."

Chen Mo didn't know where to start with his response.

He looked at Xi Siyan with a puzzled expression, only to find Xi Siyan more interested in his reaction. Finally, Xi Siyan handed him a tissue, "Wipe your face."

"Thanks." Chen Mo hesitated before taking it.

Indeed, Xi Siyan said, "That was my soup."

Initially, Chen Mo was still processing the fact that Qi Lin used to like girls with big chests in high school. It took him two seconds to look at the bowl of soup beside him.

A few bits of seaweed floated inside, mocking him.

Chen Mo: "…Sorry."

After a moment's hesitation, "Should I get you another bowl?"

"No need, I'm done." Xi Siyan tossed the napkin aside, leaned back against the chair, and nodded toward Chen Mo's plate, "Are you a cat? You eat so little."

Qi Lin chimed in, "Yeah, your appetite is terrible. You can't take much abuse."

"Abuse?"

Qi Lin pointed to the person next to him, "Last time Sun Xiaoya failed her physics exam and cried her eyes out. She sought help from him and lost eight pounds in a week. From that day on, she swore never to diet again."

Chen Mo stuffed another broccoli floret in his mouth and looked at the seemingly cold and ruthless person in front of him.

"Physics attack?"

Qi Lin laughed, "Your joke is really lame."

After eating, they returned to the dormitory.

Chen Mo realized that Xi Siyan's things had already been moved in.

One suitcase, one black bag, and even the bed had been made. The dark blue silk sheets were perfectly smooth, as if someone had an obsessive-compulsive disorder. A tablet was placed on the desk below, and Chen Mo noticed that everyone had one, which was unheard of in other dorms. No wonder this was a special dorm; the treatment was indeed different.

Two people moved into the dormitory in one day, but Chen Mo was the only new addition. Fortunately, the other two roommates, as Qi Lin had mentioned, made the atmosphere quite harmonious.

Until night fell.

Their roommate Xue Ping, who hadn't been seen all day, returned.

He wore glasses and had a fairly ordinary appearance, except for his slightly long hair, occasionally showing a few strands of white hair, fitting his studious image.

As the newcomer, Chen Mo sat on his chair, leaning back with his feet propped up on the desk, and raised his hand to greet him, "Hello, I'm Chen Mo."

Xue Ping glanced at him, said nothing, pushed his glasses up, and returned to his spot.

His bed faced Chen Mo.

Below were stacks of books and papers, clearly different from the relaxed atmosphere of the rest of the dorm.

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, feeling indifferent.

Instead, Xi Siyan, standing with his arms crossed by the closet, knocked on his table and frowned, "Stay focused."

Xue Ping paused in putting away his books.

Turning around, he seemed puzzled by why the two were together.

Xi Siyan continued, "All the key points you need to remember are here. After you digest them, there will be a test. Each phase lasts three days, with targeted reviews. Any questions?"

Chen Mo flipped through the textbook in front of him.

From major subjects to small chapter headings, everything was circled in red ink. Occasionally, a few bold words stood out, written in a wild and casual style, reflecting the owner's personality.

Chen Mo closed the book and nodded, "Yes."

"Go ahead."

Chen Mo twirled the pen in his hand, and when it dropped onto the table with a click, he asked, "What was your worst student like?"

Xi Siyan raised an eyebrow.

Chen Mo spoke sincerely, "I'm afraid the gap might be too big for you to handle."

"For example?"

"Hmm... If we compare our current levels, it would be something like: 'Sorry, your system is too low-end to run this function.'"

Laughter echoed throughout the dormitory.

The others who had listened to their conversation all evening chimed in.

"Don't give up before you even start, Chen Mo."

"Indeed, many dream of having a top student, to stay together forever."

"When heaven bestows a great responsibility upon a person, it first shuts off their phone, cuts off their internet, bids farewell to the slackers, and turns them into scholars!"

Chen Mo felt like he was standing on a stage receiving an award for a comedy duo.

Amidst the laughter and chatter, an out-of-place cold snort came from another top student, Xue Ping, who ranked second in the grade.

His eyes behind the glasses seemed to emit a cold light as he made a standard gesture of pushing up his glasses. "Wasting time on someone like him—do you really think you can still come first in the physics competition training camp in early November?"

It took Chen Mo a moment to realize that this typical top-student greeting was directed at Xi Siyan.

He thought a physical confrontation might ensify again.

For example, Xi Siyan could have retorted with: "With you?"

But all Chen Mo heard was a casual response from above: "Whether it's wasted or not, it's still time. Want me to give you first place?"

Feeling deeply insulted, Xue Ping glared furiously.

Pointing at Chen Mo, he said, "For him?!"

"Dude," Chen Mo turned his chair, calm and composed. "No need for that. You make me sound like some national disaster. I'd be too embarrassed."