The Joy of Love (1)

Hearing Ruan Qingmu’s words, Huang Ya was the first to slap his thigh. “Little Fang Li is so amazing now, even daring to hit me. Don’t worry. His chances of getting into the school he likes are high!”

“That’s right. That’s right. He’s suffering a bit now, but he’ll be relieved soon. We’re still far from it. Hell.”

The roommate in Class 1 put his arm around Fu Songhua and sincerely said, “Old Fu, I know you like to protect him, but he will soon get into an art school and make new friends there.”

“Hey, you say, with Fang Li’s good looks and dance skills, do you think he will participate in a talent show?”

“Hahaha. I don’t think so. His face turns red when he speaks!”

“Don’t say it like that. After Fang Li puts on makeup, I feel he is prettier than those idols on TV. You guys don’t know that many new junior girl students are his fans, saying our school finally has a crossdresser.”

“Wah! Then, we should ask for his autograph when he returns. Maybe we can sell it for money in the future!”

The worries of youth at this age wouldn’t last long. The boys, who had just been worried, seemed lively again.

Only Fu Songhua kept his head down, eating his hotpot alone, quickly and fiercely, with sweat pouring down his face and forehead.

***

… After finishing the hotpot, the boys’ faces were all flushed and they walked to their dormitories with their satisfied, full bellies.

Although the final exams were over today, the seniors could not go home after the exams. There were classes to be held tomorrow and when the teachers of the various subjects corrected the test papers, there was another round of ranking and calling the parents. It would take at least ten more days to have them released.

“Ruan-ge, Boss, do you want to return to the dorm and play guandan? It’s been so long since I saw you both join hands and play cards with your dashing figures!” Bai Jing invited them enthusiastically.

“Fuck. Bai Xiaosheng, are you crazy? Who wants to be abused by their joint hands?”

Qin Yuan turned his head to look at Ruan Qingmu, obviously remembering the joint effort on that occasion and his gaze was gentle. “Want to join them?”

Ruan Qingmu smiled and looked at some of the boys from Class 9. “Then, we will kill you guys again.”

“No. No. If you guys want to come, you can’t be partners. If not, don’t come then.”

“Yes, you have to break up! Tell them that flying from the south to the north, the old wing has been cold and hot several times,*” Huang Ya shouted.

*T/N: This is a line from Yuan Haowen’s poem from Jin Dynasty with the title <<>>.

Ruan Qingmu was so annoyed that he kicked him. “With you being illiterate, you can still memorize Yuan Haowen’s poetry?”

“Who is Yuan Haowen? I don’t know. Mine is from Li Mochou’s song lyric from <<The Return of the Condor Heroes>>!”

“Fuck off. We won’t go if you want to tear us apart,” Ruan Qingmu scolded with a laugh. “I’m afraid of being angered to death if I partner up with any of you guys.”

The boys erupted in laughter while Qin Yuan smiled and said nothing. Yeah, what was the point of not being a partner together?

***

At the end of the crowd, Fu Songhua walked with his head down, his tall figure reflected in the white snow, falling a few steps behind everyone else, alone and lonely.

Qin Yuan walked slower, side by side with him in silence for a while, before asking in a low voice, “When will Fang Li return?”

Fu Songhua was gloomy, speaking only after a long delay with aggravation. “He won’t tell me.”

Qin Yuan was stunned. “Why?”

“He won’t allow me to skip class and fetch him.” Fu Songhua suddenly became slightly emotional. “What’s wrong with me attending fewer morning classes? Moreover, I’m willing even if I waste a bit of my time. Why won’t he understand?!”

Qin Yuan gently patted his shoulder. “Fang Li made the right decision. Your exams and studies are the most important now. Besides, Fang Li isn’t as weak as you might imagine. He’s strong and capable enough.”

***

Ruan Qingmu and Qin Yuan didn’t return to their dormitory but slowly lagged in tacit agreement, distancing themselves a little from everyone else.

Only when everyone had entered the dormitory building did the two of them turn around with familiarity and walk toward the cultural and sports building.

The activity room had their stored materials and exercise books. These days, they usually snuck into the activity room after their nighttime self-study to study some more there.

Qin Yuan did the competition questions while Ruan Qingmu practiced his basic skills. Most of the time, Qin Yuan took Ruan Qingmu’s papers and efficiently compiled the mistakes before Ruan Qingmu revised them a little.

After finishing the exam today, most students were relieved and played cards and games in their heated dorm rooms, leaving this side of the sports and cultural building empty.

With no one traipsing back and forth in this area, the snow on the ground was thicker here than elsewhere on campus, and it was soft to step on.

It was silent all around and Ruan Qingmu slowly kicked at the snow, humming a short song that Qin Yuan had never heard of before. Upon closer inspection, it was the same song that Huang Ya had just casually mentioned, the poet lyrics of Yuan Haowen.

“Ask what is love in this world, teaching people to love each other in life and death?

Flying from the south to the north, the old wing has been cold and hot for how many times?

The joys of love and the pains of parting are all the more painful for those who are smitten.

You should say: The clouds and snow on a thousand hills, to whom will the shadow go?”

The song sounded different from the pop songs on the market nowadays. The tune was melodic and gentle, with a sad and traditional meaning. Ruan Qingmu did not have any singing skills, but the young man’s voice was clear and bright. When he sang it in such a low voice, it echoed in the snow, which made it sound lovely.

Qin Yuan listened silently, with a strange trance feeling in his heart.