MM | Chapter 31

Changes

At 11:30, Jiang Tian finished all the day’s worksheets. By 12:30, he had tackled three major math, physics, and chemistry competition problems, then reviewed all the week’s extension papers, going over the mistakes again.

Since there were very few mistakes, this part took less than 10 minutes.

By 12:40, he had nothing left to do.

Next door, there was no movement.

Sheng Wang neither shuffled around in slippers nor showed any intention to study together. Last week, he joked that Jiang Tian’s bedroom had become his forcibly occupied study room, but after the monthly exam ended, the “study room” lost its purpose.

Jiang Tian stood in front of his backpack, fingers sifting through its contents. Having finished everything he could read, he eventually pulled out a thick book titled “Guide to Lyrical Essay Writing.”

He stared at the cover for a few seconds, pondering whether this had any value or what he was even doing.

Perhaps it did, because he ended up sitting by the window with it.

This section was about the use of parallel sentences. After two minutes, Jiang Tian began to daydream.

At this hour, Baima Lane wasn’t as silent as at 2 am. Occasionally, someone would pass through, casting fleeting shadows between the walls. In the distance, cars would come and go, some quiet, others with the soft sound of tires on the road, like waves blown by the wind.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed. Jiang Tian looked away from the window. The lines of his eyes and lips subtly softened, as if the vibration brought a moment of relaxation.

He closed the writing guide he couldn’t focus on and grabbed his phone—

It was a WeChat message from Gao Tianyang.

Jiang Tian: “…”

Boom: Still awake, Tian-ge?

Jiang Tian: Awake.

Boom: Great, did you look at the competition questions Old He sent early?

Jiang Tian: I did.

Boom: I knew you wouldn’t wait until next week.

Boom: I have three questions.

Jiang Tian: Go ahead.

Boom: How do you solve

Boom: those three problems

Boom: individually?

Jiang Tian: …

Gao Tianyang sent a bunch of “life is hard” emojis, explaining that these questions were tougher than before, with too few conditions to start.

Some physics competition problems are like that, seemingly devoid of information, yet asking for results.

Boom: How can I solve them when I can’t even set up the equations?

Jiang Tian, with nothing better to do, took out the completed papers from his backpack and photographed the problems. He had marked them with ten or so small lines.

He sent the picture to Gao Tianyang, saying: Just find the hidden conditions.

Each line indicated a hidden condition, like additional forces, hypothetical quantities, or extra restrictions.

He Jin had mentioned that at this stage, physics was about being meticulous. Consider all factors, and it’s hard to go wrong. The three questions she sent were typical, with conditions hidden, frustrating an entire class.

Boom: There are so many hidden conditions???

Boom: Damn, I missed four, no wonder nothing adds up.

Boom: Where does Old He find these weird questions?

Boom: By the way, you’re acting strange today.

Jiang Tian: Strange how?

Boom: You usually skip steps when solving problems, but today you wrote everything out.

Boom: It’s practically an answer key.

Boom: [Strong man covering face]

Boom: Did you write it so thoroughly just waiting for us commoners to ask? I’m touched.

Jiang Tian’s eyelids lifted slightly. Next door remained silent, unclear whether the problems weren’t done or were finished smoothly.

He reminded Gao Tianyang: It’s 1 am.

Boom: Oh right, it’s your usual bedtime.

Jiang Tian paused, deleted “Get to work,” and replaced it with “Okay.”

If Gao Tianyang hadn’t mentioned it, he would have forgotten. Unless something came up after evening self-study, he usually went to bed at 1 am.

Boom: Then you sleep, I’ll tackle the problems.

Jiang Tian: Sure.

He said sure, but after closing WeChat, he reopened “Guide to Lyrical Essay Writing.” That night, he spent a whole hour on it. If Zhao Cai knew, she’d die of laughter…

Or maybe fright.

At 6 am the next morning, after Jiang Tian washed up and was packing his backpack, his phone received two messages. Because it was on the bed, the vibration wasn’t loud, just flashed twice, but he noticed immediately.

He zipped up his backpack and reached for his phone.

The person who had been silent all night finally responded.

Closed for the Day: Fell asleep accidentally last night, just saw this.

Closed for the Day: What’s up?

Jiang Tian stood by the bed, looking at the screen.

He had already opened the keyboard but didn’t reply.

He wanted to ask, “Why did you suddenly change your avatar and nickname,” but he already knew the reason. The question mark he sent last night was timely, but after a night, it lost its meaning.

The first sentence in the chat always reminded him of Sheng Wang’s “bad signal, just received” before the English competition.

Jiang Tian was silent for a moment, then replied: Nothing, let’s go out for breakfast.

He grabbed his backpack, leaned against the stair railing, and browsed the English newspaper, waiting for the guy named “Closed for the Day” to wake up.

*

Even though Sheng Wang changed his WeChat, he seemed the same as usual.

He listened and worked on worksheets during class, joked with others during breaks. When his pen ran out of ink, he’d borrow a refill from Jiang Tian. If something funny happened, he’d try to get Jiang Tian to laugh, and sometimes he’d hide his hand under the desk to send a WeChat complaint.

Five minutes before the last class of the morning ended, Jiang Tian sent a WeChat to the person in front: Going to Wutongwai for lunch?

Sheng Wang was busy with a chemistry sheet, his right hand scribbling calculations while his left hand reached under the desk to hold his vibrating phone.

After a moment, he pulled out his phone and looked down.

At this age, boys have broad shoulders but aren’t very thick, and even small movements show the outline of their shoulder blades through their T-shirts.

A few seconds later, Jiang Tian received a reply.

Closed for the Day: Sure, I’m starving.

Mute was helping at Xi Le at noon, and Boss Zhao provided lunch. Jiang Tian thought the courtyard in Wutongwai would have only three people today, but unexpectedly, it doubled—

As they turned the corner, they saw a small truck parked in front of Old Man Ding’s place, with a large cardboard box and some foam pieces by the wall, as if a large piece of furniture had just been unpacked.

Jiang Tian stepped inside to see two people in dark blue jackets moving a silver-white fridge into the hall, while another in the same uniform was plugging in a power strip.

Old Man Ding saw him and immediately rushed over, giving his arm a slap: “Did you buy this?!”

Jiang Tian shook his head. He was about to say something but suddenly remembered something and looked at Sheng Wang. The old man followed his gaze.

Old Man Ding hated owing people and didn’t like accepting favors. Even Jiang Tian had to use the excuse of “can’t eat for free” to give him anything, let alone others.

The old man treated Jiang Tian like half a grandson, so he could be pushy, but not with Sheng Wang. This kid was a guest and seemed fragile.

He glared at Sheng Wang, “Did you buy this?”

Sheng Wang, mimicking Jiang Tian, shook his head and said, “No.”

Old Man Ding’s eagle eyes glared fiercely, “Who else would dare buy this for me? Tell me again!”

The old man had been in the army and never lost his presence. Someone like Gao Tianyang, who’d been beaten by him, would panic at his glare. Yet, the seemingly delicate Sheng Wang wasn’t afraid at all.

Sheng Wang said, “Oh,” and then, “Well… just consider it from me.”

Old Man Ding thought, what nonsense. But the speaker looked sheepish, and he couldn’t bear to scold him.

The old man glared at him for a long while, finally giving up with a grumble, “Why’d you buy this?”

Sheng Wang suddenly smiled, “Aren’t you feeding me lunch? Consider it an advance meal fee.”

“Meal fee? I won’t take it!” Old Man Ding said, “It’s just a meal, no need for this big gesture. Take it back, have them return it.”

Sheng Wang said, “Oh,” again, “Okay, then I’ll leave with the fridge.”

“Wait!” Old Man Ding.

“Alright, I’ll wait.” Sheng Wang retracted his gesture to call the movers, looking particularly obedient.

The old man nearly spat out blood.

He paced around several times, drank some cold tea, and finally, with no choice, turned to Jiang Tian, “Your classmate, aren’t you going to do something?!”

Jiang Tian: “…”

Sheng Wang was amused by this, “Even my dad can’t control me.”

Old Man Ding spat out tea leaves, “What kind of temper is this?”

“Stubborn, like yours,” Sheng Wang said, then shielded part of his face as if expecting a smack.

The old man chuckled in exasperation.

He paced around the courtyard like a stubborn mule for several minutes before finally giving in. He muttered “brat” and retreated to the kitchen, conceding the matter.

The elderly are like children. They insist “I don’t want it,” but once accepted, they’re happier than anyone.

Old Man Ding was used to being tough and couldn’t show his joy. He kept finding excuses to check on the fridge, claiming it wasn’t working or the power strip was misplaced. During lunch, he went back and forth seven or eight times.

The younger ones knew what was happening and didn’t expose him.

Jiang Tian brought out a stool from his room and saw Sheng Wang leaning against the door, playing a mobile game while watching Old Man Ding, a smile on his face.

Jiang Tian placed the stool by the table and walked over, asking, “When did you buy it?”

Sheng Wang, still focused on his game, didn’t look up, “Just a few days ago.”

He sniped an enemy using a side scope, then added, “The day you said you’d feed me lunch.”

Jiang Tian’s fingers twitched at his side.

Sheng Wang had just finished a game and showed off his score before Jiang Tian could speak, “Impressive, right?”

He really seemed unchanged, going to and from school together, having lunch, visiting the convenience store. Be a little nice to him, and he’d give you something even better.

The only difference was he no longer came to “borrow the study room.”