CH 12

After class, Cheng Chu stroked the paper sandwiched between the pages, turned to Gu Miao, and said, “Thank you just now.”

The roots of the boy’s ears were slightly red, and a shy smile appeared on his lips: “No, no need.”

Who would’ve thought that the cold and gloomy President Gu in the future turns out to be such a shy and introverted boy when he was young.

Cheng Chu stared at his slightly red ears and found him unique and cute.

She propped her head, her eyes gleaming, and looked straight at him.

The boy’s eyelashes were trembling slightly due to nervousness. His bangs laid perfectly on his forehead; his dark eyes flickering slightly; for unknown reasons he looked like a big furry dog.

Cheng Chu had a sudden desire to reach out and touch his head.

Her fingertips twitched but she resisted the impulse in her heart.

The cold breeze circulating in the classroom made everyone shiver.

Gu Miao held a warm hot water bottle in his hand, and his heart seemed to be placed on the fire, roasting over and over.

[Why is she staring at me? Are my glasses dirty, or is something on my face?] Gu Miao thought to himself.

Gu Miao lowered his eyes, his heart racing in panic and joy. He wanted to look at her, but he couldn’t help being timid.

Just from glancing at her back, his heart was already racing but he couldn’t help himself. If he looked into her eyes, he was afraid that he would die immediately.

Fortunately, the girl just stared at him for a while and then turned back.

Gu Miao breathed a sigh of relief, but some bitter emotions surfaced from his heart.

He suddenly despises his stuttering condition, the shyness, and weakness in his heart.

Several times, Lin Qifeng from the class beside them would visit Cheng Chu. He quietly hid in the dark, like a despicable thief, watching them standing in the corridor and conversing with a smile.

His heart was overflowing with jealousy and hatred, but at the bottom of his heart, he had to admit that only such a radiant boy was worthy to stand beside her.

Because they are people from the same universe.

***

On Thursday afternoon, unsurprisingly, Cheng Chu was detained by the piano teacher again.

She was practice all night the previous night. Although she has improved a lot, she was still a lot worse compared to her peak condition in high school.

Although, the teacher didn’t scold her this time; after all, compared with yesterday’s shock, Cheng Chu’s performance today was a little better.

But only by a little.

""

“From now on, you will stay for an extra half an hour to practice on Wednesday and Thursday.” The teacher left this sentence and walked away.

When class was over, Cheng Chu remembered that she was on duty cleaning the classroom with Gu Miao today, and pointed at Ji Mingye who came toward her and said: “Can you help me tell Gu Miao something? I’ll have to go back later so tell him to finish his portion of cleaning and he can leave first. I’ll do the rest.”

Ji Mingyue nodded, and under Cheng Chu’s repeated reassurance, she turned and left.

Time seemed to fly by as she practiced playing the piano.

When Cheng Chu left the piano room, the sky was already dark.

The lights in the academic building were all dimmed, and only a few shallow street lights provided some brightness.

Cheng Chu fumbled her way upstairs, only to find that the class lights were still on.

When she walked into the room, she saw Gu Miao standing beside the garbage can at the back of the class, looking down and sorting the trash.

The classroom looked completely new, with spotless blackboards and neatly arranged desks, and even the floor was sparkling clean.

Gu Miao did all the cleaning alone.

“Let me do it.” Cheng Chu didn’t even have time to put down the piano score, and she was rushing over to grab the garbage bag from Gu Miao’s hand.

But Gu Miao avoided her.

Only one dim light was on in the classroom.

Gu Miao lowered his head and quickly tied the trash bag: “N-No need.”

“Then I’ll go with you to throw it out.” Cheng Chu hurriedly said.

This time he did not refuse.

The hallway lights were faintly illuminated upon them. Gu Miao easily carried the garbage bag and walked.

Their footsteps were very light, but they were particularly loud in the silent corridor.

Gu Miao tilted his head and silently looked at her.

As if only in this dark environment, does he dare to look straight at her.

The girl’s silhouette was hidden under the moonlight, revealing a hazy beauty.

Only those doe eyes gleaming with stars.

Gu Miao’s heart trembled slightly, and he heard the girl whisper, “Thank you for helping me clean. Next time, I’ll do it for you.”

“N-No n-need.” Gu Miao panicked.

The girl didn’t know how happy he was to do something for her.

Almost as if that inferior and cowardly Gu Miao finally had some reason to stand in front of her.

Even if it was just a little bit, he couldn’t help but feel a tinge of sweetness in his heart.

Cheng Chu sighed and knew from the bottom of her heart that he would never agree. So she didn’t say anything but secretly planned that next time they do cleaning together, she’ll do more.

The two walked into the classroom, packed their school bags, and walked out of the academic building.

Warm yellow lights were cast on the streets making the cold and silent winter night appear slightly warmer.

Cheng Chu’s house is only a short five-minute walk from the school.

At the gate of the school, she asked Gu Miao, “Where are you going?”

Gu Miao pointed to the left.

“We’re going in the same direction, let’s walk together.” Cheng Chu said with a smile.

On winter nights, the stars were sparse, and the girl’s beautiful doe eyes were bent into a bright twinkling crescent.

Gu Miao’s heart shook violently and nodded hurriedly.

The two walked side by side, and Cheng Chu could smell the clean soap scent on Gu Miao.

Mixed with the winter wind, there was an inexplicable lingering smell.

She looked at the silent boy, pondered for a moment, and said, “Actually, you can talk more often. Your voice is very nice to hear.”

Gu Miao stumbled over his feet.

He thought of the piece of paper that he had warmly touched countless times, and that sentence was also written on it.

It was the first time someone said this to him.

Knowing that she probably said it to comfort him, his cold heart couldn’t help but warm up.

“Mmhm.” Gu Miao muttered.

The shadow in his eyes and his furrowed eyebrows melted like ice the moment he saw the girl.

Using the dimly lit street lights, Cheng Chu looked into the young boy’s eyes and couldn’t help saying: “You know, not everyone in the class is like Yu Yin. Some people are also quite good, like Zhou Ran and Luo Qian Qian. They all wanted to talk to you.”

Cheng Chu knew that he was introverted and withdrawn, had no friends, and was unwilling to talk to others.

But she wanted to tell him that there are many people like her in this world, willing to accept his stutterings, willing to stop and wait, and willing to accept his misery.

The young man stared at the dead branches on the roadside with hooded eyes and did not speak for a long time.

""

Cheng Chu thought he didn’t believe her, and a touch of sourness surfaced from her heart.

She kicked the pebble beside her foot, lowered her eyes, and said nothing.

After a long time, she heard the boy’s low husky voice, saying, “Yeah.”

[Whatever you say, I’ll listen.] Gu Miao thought to himself.

Cheng Chu’s dim eyes lit up instantly, she looked at Gu Miao and happily nodded with a smile.

The two walked quietly, and after a short while, they arrived at Cheng Chu’s house gates.

Cheng Chu stopped, raised her eyes to look at Gu Miao, and said softly: “That’s my home. Then, I’ll see you tomorrow, be careful on your way.”

Gu Miao nodded: “Yeah.”

He stared at the girl’s departing form until her figure completely disappeared from his sight. He turned around and walked back to school.

The school was a little dark, he walked into the bicycle shed, stepped on the only remaining parked bike, stepped on both pedals, and rode the bike under the moonlight.

***

Friday was always the most anticipated day for students.

But today is an exception.

Because there is a physics exam in the afternoon.

Once the class is over, the students didn’t leave or play around. Instead, they remain seated at their table, either reviewing physics notes or solving problems.

Zhou Ran was stuck on a difficult problem. Although he studied hard, his grades were only average.

The classroom was silent. Zhou Ran couldn’t help but look beside him, quietly staring at his deskmate.

This deskmate of his, Gu Miao’s grades could be considered as the best of the best. Usually, he has the highest grade in the class in physics and chemistry. The only reason he couldn’t go to the Special class was that his grades in English class were not as good.

Having been deskmates with Gu Miao for several months, they had rarely spoken to each other. The group discussion in class yesterday was the longest conversation they have had.

Zhou Ran originally didn’t want to disturb him.

Gu Miao was always unsociable, and almost always ignored everything around him.

Zhou Ran looked down at the empty questions in the workbook. He thought about the exam in the afternoon and thought about Gu Miao’s unusual willingness to cooperate in the group discussion yesterday.

He gritted his teeth, tapped his deskmate lightly, and whispered, “Gu Miao.”

Gu Miao frowned and turned his head, his black eyes grim and frosty.

Zhou Ran subconsciously panicked, and his words stuck in his throat after meeting his indifferent eyes.

It took him a few seconds to recollect what he wanted to say.

“Uh, do you know how to solve this?” He pointed to his workbook, his tone cautious.

Gu Miao was a little surprised. Apart from Cheng Chu, almost no one in the class would initiate a conversation with him.

He lowered his eyes slightly, looked at the problem in the book, and a strange emotion appeared in his heart.

The air stagnated for a moment.

Zhou Ran saw Gu Miao’s hooded eyes and embarrassingly took the workbook back: “Forget it, forget it. Let me think about it some more.”

He feels a little regretful about his actions; even though he knew that Gu Miao wouldn’t pay attention to him, he still chose to bother him.

Gu Miao pursed his lips as he listened to Zhou Ran’s slightly embarrassed voice.

He thought of Cheng Chu looking up at him under the dim street light, with sincere and bright stars in her eyes.

She said that people are willing to talk to him.

The winter breeze brought bitter coldness to the room, but Gu Miao felt that a corner of his heart was burning fervently.

The warm and peaceful heat slowly spread to every corner of his body.

Sitting next to him, Zhou Ran was hanging his head, thinking hard about the unsolvable physics problem.

Suddenly, a piece of paper was pushed over onto his desk, and it was full of steps and explanations for solving the problem.

Zhou Ran raised his head in amazement, looking at Gu Miao and his cold expression, and said with some uncertainty: “Is this for me?”

The indifferent boy nodded and said: “R-Read it. A-Ask me i-if you don’t u-understand.”

“Okay.” Zhou Ran said with joy: “Thank you, Gu Miao, you are actually quite a nice person.”

This was the first time he knew that his deskmate was such a kind but cold-faced person.

Gu Miao’s eyes flashed, and he lowered his head without talking.

A nice person? He sneered from the bottom of his heart. This was the first time anyone said that about him.