Lingering Game
Lingering Game chapter 13

Throughout the entire class, Jing Tian’s mind was elsewhere.

Like several classes before, he had no foundation in the subject and found it extremely difficult to grasp from halfway through the lecture.

Listening to something he didn’t understand for too long naturally led his mind to wander.

Moreover, sitting beside him was someone he couldn’t help but pay attention to.

When Zheng Xunqian first sat down, Yang Yue seemed a bit excited, nudging Jing Tian with his elbow and winking at him.

To Jing Tian’s relief, Yang Yue’s curiosity about gossip was weakened by his fatigue.

Less than ten minutes into the class, he was already yawning incessantly and soon found himself lying back on the table, half asleep.

Although Jing Tian couldn’t understand, he still diligently took notes based on the teacher’s lecture material, occasionally jotting something down in his textbook, as a form of self-consolation.

Compared to his false diligence, Zheng Xunqian didn’t pick up a pen throughout the entire class.

Jing Tian kept an eye on him from the corner of his eye.

In Jing Tian’s concept, students like Zheng Xunqian, who were recognized for their excellent grades, must be very serious in class.

But never in a million years did he expect Zheng Xunqian to be on his phone the entire class.

He seemed listless, propping his chin with one hand, head lowered, while the other hand occasionally slid across the screen of his phone placed on the desk, with occasional yawns.

Judging by his demeanor, he wasn’t any better than Yang Yue.

Thinking of the neatly organized class notes he had received from him yesterday, Jing Tian found it baffling.

When the bell rang for the end of class, Yang Yue was still asleep.

Jing Tian had no choice but to wake him up.

Yang Yue was clearly in a deep sleep, groggily sitting up for a while before coming to his senses.

At the same time, Zheng Xunqian sat on Jing Tian’s other side, calmly organizing his belongings.

He didn’t have much to pack, so it was easy for him.

But even after clearing the table, he didn’t get up. Instead, he sat there, bowing his head to play with his phone.

Jing Tian felt very awkward, deliberately turning away from him to talk to Yang Yue, “Are you awake? Do you want to go get something to drink?”

Yang Yue rubbed his face vigorously, raised his head, quickly realized something, still groggy but with a smirk on his face, glanced behind Jing Tian, “Do you have other plans now?”

“Me? No, not really,” Jing Tian said nervously, “Didn’t we agree that I’d treat you to a meal?”

Even as he spoke, he silently criticized Zheng Xunqian in his heart. What was this guy thinking? If he had something to say, why hadn’t he spoken up?

With him so engrossed in his own world, Jing Tian couldn’t find an appropriate time to initiate a conversation.

“What?” Yang Yue was momentarily confused, then snapped out of it, “I was just joking with you! Why are you being so honest now!”

“It’s okay,” Jing Tian shook his head, “You’ve helped me so much these past few days, it’s only right that I treat you.”

Yang Yue looked touched as he reached out to pat his head, “You’re so good! It’s worth it to dote on you!”

Jing Tian vaguely sensed the gaze from behind, feeling embarrassed and shrinking his neck.

“But let’s do it another time,” Yang Yue said, pointing to his other side, “Isn’t someone waiting for you?”

Finally given the chance, Jing Tian turned around, feeling relieved, and looked at Zheng Xunqian still sitting there.

“…Are… are you waiting for me?” Jing Tian asked.

Zheng Xunqian glanced at him, then quickly looked away, “No.”

Seeing the atmosphere about to become awkward, Zheng Xunqian paused for a few seconds before speaking again, “Why didn’t Liu… Liu Yue come find you during class?”

Who? Jing Tian was confused for a moment, then realized he might be referring to the guy who had been appointed to tutor him.

Thanks to Zheng Xunqian, Jing Tian couldn’t even remember the guy’s name now.

That guy didn’t seem to care much about his situation anyway.

“He probably had his own things to do,” Jing Tian said.

Zheng Xunqian nodded and continued, “Did you understand what was discussed in class just now?”

Jing Tian smiled awkwardly, “I… only understood half of it.”

Actually, he didn’t understand it at all.

“The topics we covered today are also in the folder I sent you yesterday. You can find them by chapter number in the textbook. Take a look first, and if you have any questions, come to me.”

Zheng Xunqian said.

Jing Tian was surprised and nodded repeatedly, “Okay, thank you!”

“Oh, and,” Zheng Xunqian said, “I forgot to give you the charger and data cable for the tablet yesterday. Do you have the same model?”

Before Jing Tian could speak, Yang Yue muttered behind him, “I knew it, you forget everything so easily, who else can you ask to borrow from?”

Jing Tian pretended not to hear, shaking his head, “No…”

“Then come with me to get it later.”

Jing Tian nodded quickly, “Okay, thank you, I’m really sorry to trouble you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

For the first time, Zheng Xunqian responded positively and politely to his thanks.

Jing Tian felt inexplicably relieved.

Just as he was about to get up, Zheng Xunqian put his phone back in his pocket and said, “Just treat me to a meal.”

“Huh?” Jing Tian was taken aback.

“Is my help to you only worth a meal once?” Zheng Xunqian asked.

“Of course not!” Jing Tian quickly shook his head, then turned to Yang Yue, “Well, since we’re here, why don’t we all go together?”

Yang Yue chuckled and didn’t immediately respond, but looked at Zheng Xunqian, “Do you want me to come with you?”

Zheng Xunqian shook his head decisively, “I’d rather you not.”

Jing Tian was shocked!

Yang Yue chuckled, “Then let’s go separately!”

“…Should we still go to the cafeteria?” Jing Tian asked as they walked.

The fish head soup from yesterday was both delicious and affordable, leaving a lasting impression on him, and he wanted to try more dishes there.

“Sure.”

Zheng Xunqian nodded expressionlessly.

The two remained silent, slowly making their way to the school cafeteria.

This atmosphere made Jing Tian uncomfortable.

He wanted to say something to ease the tension, but couldn’t find the words, feeling anxious.

“What do you usually like to eat?” Zheng Xunqian asked abruptly.

“Huh? Me?” Jing Tian swallowed, thinking seriously, “I’m not picky about food, I can eat anything… just not too spicy. But I can try mild spice!”

“Do you prefer things that run on the ground or swim in the water?” Zheng Xunqian asked again.

“Swim in the water,” Jing Tian answered decisively.

Zheng Xunqian nodded.

After a few more steps, Jing Tian added, “But I can accept things that run on the ground too. I’m really not picky, so you can pick whatever you like. I want to try that dry pot from yesterday too. It might not be very spicy, and if it is, I can just rinse it with clear water. It won’t be too bad.”

Finally having a topic, Jing Tian blurted out a bunch of words quickly and loudly, almost choking up due to nervousness and fear of awkwardness.

Zheng Xunqian stopped walking. “Let’s not go to the cafeteria.”

“Huh?” Jing Tian was confused by his actions.

Zheng Xunqian looked at him. “Can we eat outside the school? It’s not far.”

“Huh? Oh,” Jing Tian nodded, “Sure, that’s fine. Can you lead the way?”

Zheng Xunqian continued walking, then asked, “You remembered after you went back yesterday, right?”

Jing Tian’s gaze shifted. “Um… sort of…”

“It seems revisiting old places is quite useful,” Zheng Xunqian said, “Good, the place we’re going to later, you’ve been there before too. Maybe you’ll remember something.”

Jing Tian tentatively asked, “Did we go there together?”

Zheng Xunqian didn’t answer immediately.

He maintained his previous pace, walking quietly forward, seeming to be recalling something.

“That place, did we go there together?” Jing Tian asked again.

“Yeah,” Zheng Xunqian nodded, glanced at him sideways, “That’s… where we had our first date.”

Jing Tian’s heart skipped a beat.

His brain buzzed with activity, and it took him a while to regain his logical thinking.

The first thought that emerged from the chaos was: Zheng Xunqian and I actually went on a date?!

Upon careful consideration, it made sense, since they had ended up in bed together.

However, the date location didn’t seem very classy.

When Zheng Xunqian pointed to the slightly run-down signboard that read “Yellow Fish Noodles” from a distance, some memories indeed resurfaced in Jing Tian’s mind.

Not experiences, but words.

In the email he received yesterday, amidst all the angry ranting, this place had appeared.

He had used an entire email to vent his dissatisfaction at the time.

It clearly wasn’t a pleasant memory.

“Did we really go on a date here?” he cautiously asked the person beside him.

Zheng Xunqian remained his usual expressionless, serious, and calm self. “Yes.”

Jing Tian shouted in his mind: You’re lying!

1 comment
  1. Cocole has spoken 4 months ago

    I can’t wait for him to remember his past.

    Reply

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