MM | Chapter 22

Old Man Ding

The world of middle school is simple. As long as you’re slightly outstanding in something, you can become a legendary figure known throughout the school. Good grades can do it, and so can a good face. Jiang Tian happened to have both, making his name almost magical.

From the moment the boy who delivered the notebook spoke, until the exam officially began, everyone around was in a state of curiosity but didn’t dare to discuss too much, like mosquitoes with their wings pinched, able to move their mouths but unable to make a sound.

Sheng Wang found it a bit funny.

Back in the day, I was quite the sensation too. At least no fool would say “just those grades” in front of me, Sheng Wang thought.

But soon he felt it was pointless to dwell on the past.

He always thought he had a heart of steel. He could openly show his sixty or seventy-point papers, even make jokes about them for everyone to laugh at, and then it would be over.

Until this moment, when the chatterboxes buried themselves in their papers, and the exam bell’s echo faded away. Sitting in the quiet classroom, listening to the cicadas outside, he suddenly realized—

He really didn’t like this feeling of falling from grace.

Nobody would.

Every desk in the classroom had a small piece of paper on the top left corner, with the name, class, exam number, and seat number. The proctor walked down from the podium with a form, asking each student to sign.

He soon arrived in front of Sheng Wang, verified the information, pressed the form on the desk, and whispered, “Sign here,” pointing at the number “279.”

279 was his seat number this time. Affiliated High School focused heavily on science, and apart from Classes A and B, the first seven were science classes. His rank wasn’t impressive. Sheng Wang pressed his pen and signed his name next to the number.

Set a small goal for himself, like… jumping up 100 places from 279.

The first math exam was from 7 to 9:30, followed by a half-hour break. The second physics exam was from 10 to 11:40.

After these two exams, people were basically exhausted.

When the bell rang, a horde of zombies poured out of the classroom.

Gao Tianyang, who was only one class away from Sheng Wang, waited outside Class 5 after handing in his paper.

Sheng Wang, surprised, asked, “You didn’t rush to the cafeteria?”

“No need to rush today, remember?” Gao Tianyang replied, then realized, “Oh right, you don’t know. Our school has a rule. On exam days, the cafeteria serves meals twice. No need to fight for it. They probably don’t want students to collapse after an exam and then have to compete physically. Imagine the impact if someone queued up at the observatory to jump off.”

“Besides, fewer people are eating in the cafeteria today.” Gao Tianyang pointed to the classroom. “Look, a bunch stayed behind.”

Indeed, there were people left in the classroom. Roughly counting, there were about ten. Since hot food with strong smells wasn’t allowed, they all took out biscuits, bread, and sausages from their bags.

“So dedicated?” Sheng Wang remembered that the last exam wasn’t like this. But then he recalled that he took the last one in Class A. His classmates usually worked hard, but on exam days, they pampered themselves and picked the best food in the cafeteria.

Gao Tianyang said, “The change in exam venues is a big deal. No one wants to sit further back. Let’s go eat.”

“Wait a sec—” Sheng Wang stopped at the stair railing, looking upstairs. Class A was near the stairs. The main group had already left, leaving only a few stragglers.

He was about to say he needed to inform Jiang Tian if they weren’t going to the west gate when he saw someone coming down the stairs, boldly holding a phone.

“Tian-ge, over here,” Gao Tianyang signaled.

Jiang Tian looked up at them, quickly tapped his screen a few times, seemingly deleting something.

“Aren’t you worried about running into Big Mouth Xu?” Gao Tianyang teased.

“He’s patrolling Grade 1 Senior today.” Jiang Tian put his phone back in his pocket. Before the screen went black, Sheng Wang thought he saw a row of little red dots, like a WeChat interface.

He had a feeling Jiang Tian was about to message him.

“Not going to the west gate today?” he asked.

“Yeah.” Jiang Tian pointed at Gao Tianyang, “Didn’t he tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“That we’re eating in the cafeteria today.” Gao Tianyang dragged out his words, looking helpless. “Isn’t it obvious, bro? I was waiting here for you.”

Sheng Wang encountered someone who spoke through actions for the first time and curiously asked, “What if you hadn’t caught me?”

“I run faster than a dog. How could I not catch you?” Gao Tianyang said.

Sheng Wang was speechless and gave him a thumbs-up.

“Why not the west gate?” Sheng Wang followed Gao Tianyang downstairs, surrounded by a bustling crowd, Jiang Tian behind him.

He was actually asking Jiang Tian, but Gao Tianyang answered eagerly, “Because it’s far. A round trip takes 20 minutes, plus eating. You know what’s in the afternoon?”

“Chinese,” Sheng Wang said.

“Yeah, Chinese.” Gao Tianyang said, “Chinese is terrifying. I haven’t memorized the two classical texts yet. If I get them all wrong, Zhaocai will hang me up and beat me. Tian-ge, have you memorized them?”

Sheng Wang turned his head, seeing Jiang Tian with a stern face, saying, “No.”

Gao Tianyang asked again, “Have you memorized the eight poetry appreciation techniques?”

“Are you getting excited?”

Sheng Wang almost laughed. He nearly forgot that this legendary figure wasn’t omnipotent. When it came to Chinese, his face screamed “I have a problem.”

Gao Tianyang was having fun with the questions, and Sheng Wang joined in. He turned his head and asked, “Have you read the Lyrical Essay Writing Guide from Zhaocai?”

Gao Tianyang echoed, “Have you?”

Jiang Tian: “…”

Seeing him stop, Sheng Wang immediately ran down three steps at a time, faster than Gao Tianyang.

They waited by the fountain for Jiang Tian. Gao Tianyang laughed until he almost cried, then suddenly changed his expression, saying to Sheng Wang, “You run faster than me. You said you’re weak?”

“Occasionally.” Sheng Wang wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand and fanned his collar.

The bold and carefree youth always attracted attention. When he ran over, the girls passing by all turned to look. Now feeling too conspicuous, he began to play dead, leaning on his knees.

Gao Tianyang looked at him disapprovingly.

“What are you looking at me for?” Sheng Wang said, “I really can’t run. Today I ate more for breakfast just for the exam. Usually, I’m weak.”

“Excuses.” Gao Tianyang began to spout nonsense, “You just want to eat with Tian-ge, not with me.”

Sheng Wang: “…”

Listen to this nonsense.

The young master “heh”ed and didn’t even respond.

Suddenly, there was a commotion nearby. Sheng Wang heard someone curse, “Damn beggar, blocking the way! Damn, my new shoes—”

He frowned and looked over, seeing a familiar bronze figure hunching down the fountain steps, a blue cloth bag on his shoulder falling to the ground, small watermelons rolling everywhere, two of them cracked open, red flesh facing the sky, oozing sweet juice.

Gao Tianyang shouted, “Mute!”

Sheng Wang suddenly remembered, this was the mute he had seen at Xi Le Convenience Store.

“What’s going on?”

“Who is that?”

“Seems like the scavenger from the west gate.”

The girls exclaimed, startled and stepping back, whispers spreading around.

A few students hesitated, about to help, but were quickly pushed aside from behind. Before they could react, two figures rushed down six steps, heading straight for the fallen person.

“Isn’t that Sheng Wang from Class A?”

“And their class’s P.E. committee member, wow, is his shoulder made of iron?”

The students grumbled as they were pushed aside.

Sheng Wang and Gao Tianyang helped the mute up. Because of the hump on his back, he was pressed down, short and small. Saying they helped, they were almost lifting him.

The mute was still a bit confused, clasping his hands together, humming apologetically.

Sheng Wang checked his arm, noticing two scraped patches on his knee, revealing red flesh.

When people reach a certain age, their expressions have a similarity. The mute, in his fifties, had the demeanor of someone in their seventies or eighties. His closed eyes and wheezing reminded Sheng Wang of his late grandfather, who hummed similarly when he was gravely ill in the hospital.

He was in pain, and no one else could take it away.

Gao Tianyang straightened up and asked, “Who pushed him?”

Most people hesitated, not speaking, but their eyes focused on one spot. A feisty girl broke the silence, “Who else, Zhai Tao!”

Sheng Wang frowned and looked up, following the crowd’s gaze, seeing a boy leaning on another’s shoulder, lifting his right foot to wipe his shoe, muttering something.

Enemies meet on a narrow path, it was the same guy who mocked Sheng Wang in Class 5.

“Again, it’s you.” Gao Tianyang cursed, “Which blind dog dragged you here to stink up the place?”

Zhai Tao threw the tissue in his hand heavily, “Damn! Say that again?”

“You’re trash, and you make trash.” Gao Tianyang mocked, “I just said it, what now?”

Zhai Tao pretended to come down the steps, his classmate tried to pull him back but was shrugged off.

“Why fight with Gao Tianyang, he’s known for being able to fight!” the classmate shouted, “There are only two of us, not worth it.”

Gao Tianyang wore his mockery on his face, “Hey, come on! I’m just afraid you won’t dare. It’s the first time I’ve heard an ordinary class idiot say A class is all brawn, trying to make someone laugh?”

Both couldn’t stand it anymore, Zhai Tao rushed down the steps.

Gao Tianyang clenched his fist, ready to fight, but suddenly felt a blur in front of him.

Before he realized it, Sheng Wang had already taken off his backpack, swinging it out.

The backpack brushed past his ear, the sound of wind audible.

Gao Tianyang was dumbfounded, watching the backpack hit Zhai Tao’s face solidly, even hearing a “smack.”

The backpack fell to the ground, Zhai Tao howled, clutching his face and squatting down, hissing through his teeth.

“I…” Gao Tianyang looked at him, then at Sheng Wang, slowly squeezing out, “Damn?”

Can’t blame him for being surprised, Sheng Wang didn’t seem like someone who would get physical.

Zhai Tao’s face had two red marks from the zipper, a bit comical, but paired with his furious rage, it was somewhat intimidating.

Then he cursed Sheng Wang with the phrase he hated most, “Damn your mom!”

Sheng Wang’s face instantly turned cold.

Gao Tianyang didn’t quite understand the intricacies, but Sheng Wang’s emotional change was visible.

Amidst the uncertainty, there was another gasp from the front. He looked up.

Zhai Tao, who had just cursed, was kicked from behind, losing his balance and falling.

Jiang Tian came from behind, casually picking up the backpack, looking at the disheveled Zhai Tao, saying, “Apologize.”

“I apologize to your—”

Before he could finish, Jiang Tian raised the hand holding the backpack.

Zhai Tao instinctively covered his head.

“Apologize,” Jiang Tian repeated.

“I—” Zhai Tao was red-faced with anger, “Who do I apologize to?!”

“Are you an idiot?” Jiang Tian said impatiently.

“I…”

Zhai Tao was at a disadvantage, and it was exam time. His usual gang of brothers was being educated and whipped, not with him. With the mentality of a wise man not suffering immediate losses, he didn’t continue to seek trouble.

He climbed up from the ground, patting the dust off his shoulder and twisting his neck, then squeezed out, “Sorry, okay? Damn.”

After speaking, he limped up the steps, grabbed a classmate’s jacket, and left with a sour face.

The troublemaker left, and the conflict was over.

The crowd dispersed, some discussing as they headed to the cafeteria, some returning to the exam room, and some possibly heading to the office or the Political and Educational Office.

Whatever, Sheng Wang didn’t care.

“Should we go to the clinic?”

“Yeah, better disinfect it.”

Two girls reminded them, one voice identical to the one who reported “Zhai Tao.”

Sheng Wang turned and saw familiar faces. This time he wasn’t face-blind, recognizing them as the girls who had warned him not to provoke Zhai Tao in the exam room.

He couldn’t remember their names, but Gao Tianyang did, as these two frequently visited Class A to see Jiang Tian. They hadn’t spoken much to Jiang Tian but were familiar with others in Class A.

“Hey, boys fighting, don’t get involved, it’s too bloody.” Gao Tianyang said to the doll-faced girl, “Dimples, take your Xue Qian away. Her height makes me nervous.”

The girl next to her, at least 1.7 meters tall with a high ponytail, snorted, “Not even looking at you, what are you nervous about?”

“Yes, yes, I’m ugly, okay?” Gao Tianyang agreed.

But Xue Qian didn’t interfere much, pulling Dimples towards the cafeteria. Before leaving, she unabashedly said to Sheng Wang, “Hey, you were really cool just now!”

Sheng Wang: “…”

“I told you one of them would fall for someone else!” Gao Tianyang winked at Jiang Tian and Sheng Wang, only to be told to get lost.

With the interruption, Sheng Wang’s expression softened.

He rubbed his face, squatting in front of the mute, pointing at the wound and grimacing, “Really need to disinfect, lots of gravel.”

“Let’s go to the school clinic,” Gao Tianyang suggested.

The mute gestured, pursing his lips and shaking his head.

Gao Tianyang said, “Uncle, stop gesturing, I don’t understand.”

Sheng Wang instinctively looked at Jiang Tian, remembering that the mute seemed to know him.

Sure enough, Jiang Tian said, “He said he won’t go to the clinic, he has disinfectant at home.”

Sheng Wang, experienced with illness, asked immediately, “What kind of disinfectant? How long has it been? Is it expired?”

Mute: “?”

Gao Tianyang laughed, “Why are you so particular?”

Jiang Tian casually replied, “He’s precious.”

A question mark slowly appeared above Sheng Wang’s head.

As for Gao Tianyang, he stared at the back of Jiang Tian’s head as if he’d seen a ghost.

The west gate was always quiet at noon, the sycamores interwoven, casting a thick shade, sunlight filtering through the gaps.

The alley leading to the residential buildings had a fitting name, “Wutongwai.”

Gao Tianyang said he and Jiang Tian lived here when they were young.

Wutongwai was the earliest faculty housing for Affiliated High School. Gao Tianyang’s grandparents and Jiang Tian’s grandmother were former teachers there.

“The elementary school here is quite famous, so I moved here when I was five or six and lived until I graduated elementary school.” Gao Tianyang pointed at Jiang Tian, “He came earlier, three or four years old? But he moved away before finishing elementary.”

Sheng Wang curiously looked at Jiang Tian, who was helping the mute and didn’t look up, just nodded.

Having lived here for many years, they were familiar with the people of Wutongwai, especially the older generation. Several people greeted them along the way, even pulling Gao Tianyang aside, saying, “Haven’t seen you in a while?”

The mute’s house was deep in the alley, not a residential building, but an old house with a courtyard.

Sheng Wang’s first reaction was, “It’s quite big.”

A large tree stood beside the house, its slanted branches half-covering the eaves like a natural umbrella, providing shade.

Unexpectedly, Gao Tianyang pointed with his mouth, “He only occupies this room.”

The hall on the west side of the courtyard was supported by a single pillar, with no door, filled with bundles of waste paper, books, and plastic bottles. Next to this pile of waste was a ten-square-meter room, where the mute lived.

These ten square meters included a bed, wardrobe, table, old TV, and a tiny bathroom.

Sheng Wang was amazed but didn’t show it.

“What about the other side?” He pointed to the other side of the courtyard, which had a similar structure, but the hall had a door with a table inside.

The hall connected to a low kitchen on one end and a bedroom similar to the mute’s on the other.

“Old Man Ding lives opposite, a famous lonely old man in Wutongwai.” Gao Tianyang said, “Tian-ge has a good relationship with him, eats lunch here. I can’t, I once climbed a tree and broke his roof. The old man holds a grudge, chases me with a broom.”

He pointed to a gap in the eaves, but Sheng Wang was distracted, his gaze involuntarily drawn to the hall.

Jiang Tian disappeared outside the west gate every noon to eat here?

Why?

As they spoke, the door opposite creaked open, and an old man with sparse hair came out. He looked energetic, standing straight, but his forehead was deeply wrinkled, with three lines when he raised his eyebrows.

Gao Tianyang immediately exclaimed, “Damn,” and hid behind Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian, wther Tian, you tricked me. Didn’t you say he wasn’t here today?”

“When did I say he wasn’t here?” Jiang Tian said.

“Didn’t you tell him you weren’t coming for lunch today? Why isn’t he napping at this hour?” Gao Tianyang began to argue.

Though old, Old Man Ding had sharp eyesight and quickly spotted his enemy, turning to grab a broom from the wall.

The mute, with his tongueless mouth, laughed beside him.

Gao Tianyang took a step forward, saying, “Don’t hit! I’m just dropping off Uncle Mute, I’m leaving! Goodbye!”

This joker clasped his hands and hurriedly jumped out the door.

Sheng Wang asked, “You’re really leaving?”

“Does that broom look fake to you?” Gao Tianyang said, “You two handle it, I’m off to Xi Le for lunch. See you!”

Old Man Ding, like an aged owl, watched the door vigilantly, only relaxing when he confirmed the rascal had truly left, slowly putting down the broom.

He wore black cloth shoes, crossing the courtyard towards them, asking, “What happened?”

The mute made some noises and gestured.

Old Man Ding sighed, turning to Jiang Tian, “Xiao Tian, what’s he saying?”

“He fell at school, scraped his knee.” Jiang Tian said.

Sheng Wang raised the blue cloth bag, “Two watermelons got smashed, only one good one left.”

Old Man Ding’s eagle eyes focused on Sheng Wang, sizing him up, asking, “Whose family kid is this?”

This question was awkward.

In theory, Jiang Tian should say, “My family.”

Sheng Wang chuckled awkwardly, speaking before Jiang Tian, “I’m his classmate, hello, Grandpa Ding.”

Generally, handsome guys acting cute are irresistible, but Old Man Ding was unconventional.

He glared, “Who said my surname is Ding!”

Sheng Wang: “…”

He innocently smiled at Old Man Ding, then turned to glare at Jiang Tian.

Luckily, Jiang Tian didn’t leave him hanging, pointing at the courtyard gate, “The one who ran taught him.”

Old Man Ding snorted, “That rascal just talks nonsense!”

Jiang Tian shifted the blame to Gao Tianyang without batting an eye, and Old Man Ding’s attitude visibly improved towards Sheng Wang. He said, “You brought Mute back with Xiao Tian? Don’t you have exams today?”

Sheng Wang said, “Yeah, there’s time.”

Old Man Ding appreciated his understanding, nodding, “Have you two eaten?”

Sheng Wang glanced at Jiang Tian.

“What? Don’t you know if you’ve eaten?” The old man was sharp, exposing him without mercy.

Sheng Wang thought, I’m just being polite, letting the host take the lead! As an outsider, if he said he hadn’t eaten, the old man might invite them to eat, and Jiang Tian would have to agree even if he didn’t want to, which would be awkward.

He maintained a smile, slowly lifting his foot to step on Jiang Tian’s, signaling him to help out.

Jiang Tian: “…No.”

Sheng Wang was stunned, looking at him in surprise.

Jiang Tian said expressionlessly, “Lift your foot first.”

“Oh, oh, sorry.” Sheng Wang stepped back.

Old people’s joy, like children’s, was written on their faces. Old Man Ding suddenly brightened up, shaking his head and fanning himself as he headed to the kitchen, “I knew you hadn’t eaten! I’ll fix up the food.”

Once the old man left, they helped the mute into his room.

Jiang Tian, familiar with the place, took two bottles and a bag of cotton swabs from the top of the wardrobe.

After treating the wound, the mute gestured to get up again. Jiang Tian pressed him down, saying, “Don’t move, I’ll do it.”

He took the blue bag and led Sheng Wang outside.

There was a well in the courtyard, with a tin bucket tied with a rope outside. Jiang Tian put the only intact watermelon in the bucket, lowering it into the well.

Sheng Wang watched intently, then asked, “What’s this? Washing the watermelon?”

“Chilling it.” Jiang Tian said.

“Why not put it in the fridge?”

Jiang Tian squatted there, looking up at him, with a bit of a… dumbfounded expression.

Sheng Wang, sensitive, snapped, “What?”

Jiang Tian gestured towards the bedroom, “Did you see a fridge?”

Sheng Wang lowered his head, “Oh.”

He thought for a moment and realized there really wasn’t one.

Having lived a good life, he almost forgot that some people lived less fortunate lives in the corners of streets and alleys.

He stared at the dark well, lost in thought for a moment.

Jiang Tian suddenly pulled the rope, lifting the bucket. The watermelon, washed by the well water, was shiny and clean. The bucket rim hit the well wall, splashing water.

“Try it.” Jiang Tian nodded at the watermelon.

Sheng Wang hesitated, reaching out to touch it. The bucket still had half a bucket of well water, shockingly cold to the touch.

“The well water is this cold?” Sheng Wang quickly withdrew his hand.

“Yeah.” Jiang Tian lowered the bucket again, stood up, and flicked the water off his fingers, “Not worse than a fridge.”

Sheng Wang “oh”ed, feeling better.

“Hey?” Sheng Wang was curious, “Can I ask something? I saw others couldn’t understand his gestures. How do you?”

“I only half understand, guessing a lot.” Jiang Tian said, “The only one who can chat with him is the boss of Xi Le.”

Sheng Wang nodded, thinking no wonder the mute often went to Xi Le, sometimes helping Boss Zhao move things, sometimes organizing bags, sometimes collecting recyclables, sometimes just staying.

If there’s only one person in the world who can hear you, they’re more important than anyone.

Old Man Ding’s dishes were ready, just needing to be heated. Jiang Tian had said he wouldn’t come, so he and the mute, with small appetites, only made one dish and one soup. To avoid monotony, he quickly stir-fried a dish of green pepper and pork slices, proudly serving it.

Before entering the hall, Jiang Tian pulled Sheng Wang aside.

“What’s up?” Sheng Wang asked curiously.

Jiang Tian hesitated, “Maybe you should go to Xi Le.”

“Huh?” His sudden change of heart left Sheng Wang a bit stunned.

He looked at Jiang Tian, dazed for a moment, then softly “ah”ed.

So he’s not used to letting outsiders into his life? Jiang Tian came here every day, but never mentioned it to anyone. Except for someone like Gao Tianyang, who knew him well, he probably didn’t like anyone seeing his private side.

Understandable.

Just a slight sense of being left out.

Sheng Wang smiled, “Sure, I’m fine with that. Help me explain to Old… uh, what’s his surname again? Tell him I have something urgent and had to leave.”

As he spoke, Jiang Tian kept looking at him, frowning slightly, as if pondering something.

Sheng Wang tugged at his backpack, pulling it up.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, Jiang Tian spoke again, “Forget it, pretend I didn’t say anything.”

Sheng Wang: “…”

“Have you really never been beaten up?” Sheng Wang couldn’t hold back.

Seeing the young master about to explode, Jiang Tian added, “The old man’s cooking isn’t very particular, I don’t know if you’ll like it.”

Jiang Tian still frowned, “Would you rather stay here or go to Xi Le?”

Sheng Wang and he stared at each other for a while, finally understanding his meaning, “You went around in circles, worried I wouldn’t eat here?”

Jiang Tian was silent for a moment, then stiffly said, “Afraid the food will be wasted.”

Sheng Wang raised an eyebrow, looking at him skeptically, “Who taught you to be so awkward?”

Jiang Tian, with a stern face, pointed to the door, “You should go to Xi Le.”

“I won’t.”

Sheng Wang’s mood lifted again, stepping towards the hall, saying, “What misunderstanding do you have about me? Am I that picky?”

Jiang Tian immediately took out his phone, opening the photo album.

Sheng Wang thought something was wrong, remembering the drunken video still in his hands, and immediately stopped him, “Okay, okay, I’m picky, very, very picky, satisfied?”

Clearly, Jiang Tian wasn’t satisfied.

He switched to the album, and under Sheng Wang’s puzzled gaze, opened WeChat, quickly scrolling down, opened an avatar, and shoved the chat record in Sheng Wang’s face.

Sheng Wang saw the note: Xi Le – Zhao Su.

What a cold note style. While mentally complaining, he looked at the long paragraphs below, then was dumbfounded.

The long paragraphs were, of course, from Boss Zhao.

Middle-aged men obsessed with WeChat often liked to write long essays, regardless of whether the other party was interested. They dared to write anything in the input box.

Boss Zhao rambled as follows:

Xi Le – Zhao Su: Mute said there will be fresh watermelons in a few days. If you’re free after school, you can take one. Expected to be crisp flesh. Do you eat sandy or crisp?

Jiang Tian: Either, thanks.

Xi Le – Zhao Su: You’re easy to please. The boy you brought to eat with you is far too picky. According to many days of observation, he does not eat carrots, spinach, onions, garlic, or cilantro. A little bit for flavor is fine, but if he notices it, there is no way he will eat it. White radish is fine if it is diced, but not if it is in chunks. Green peppers cannot be sliced, but shredded is okay. Crispy potatoes are not acceptable. Sandy watermelons are not acceptable. Sour strawberries are not acceptable. Overly sweet grapes are not acceptable.

Xi Le – Zhao Su: If I had a son like that, I’d starve him for three days.

Xi Le – Zhao Su: Never mind, my son isn’t a good bird either.

Jiang Tian: …

Even through the screen, Jiang Tian’s speechlessness and suffocation were palpable, but Sheng Wang was more suffocated.

He wanted to say, are these middle-aged people so gossipy? Reporting everything! Is eating worth writing such a breeding report?

But thinking about it, Boss Zhao, who could say, “Your little boy is eating for free, come redeem him,” what couldn’t he do?

Sheng Wang turned off the screen, saying, “He slandered me.”

“Who slandered you?” Old Man Ding came out with the rice, saying, “Come sit, this little—little what?”

He asked Jiang Tian.

“Xiao Wang.” Jiang Tian followed his habit, reporting the name, pausing after he said it.

Such a nickname sounded strange from him. Sheng Wang’s fingers, hanging by his side, uncomfortably pinched his knuckles, saying, “Xiao Sheng, Xiao Wang, whatever you like.”

Old Man Ding said, “Xiao Wang, how much rice do you eat? Is this bowl enough?”

“Enough.” Sheng Wang quickly said.

“Then I’ll serve you.”

“I’ll do it myself.”

But the old man was nimble, grabbing the rice spoon and running off.

Sheng Wang could only awkwardly withdraw his hand, sitting by the table. Maybe he was really hungry, but the simple dishes smelled really good, even better than the gossipy Boss Zhao’s cooking at Xi Le.

His stomach growled, and to cover the unflattering sound, he coughed and asked Jiang Tian, “Why does Gao Tianyang call him Old Man Ding?”

Jiang Tian’s lips moved, glancing at Old Man Ding bringing the rice, then took out his phone, opening the notes.

Sheng Wang curiously leaned over.

He saw Jiang Tian draw an oval with a pencil in the notes, inside the circle was a “Ding,” then two round eyes, and three forehead lines.

Then he started typing, his thumbs long and slender, quickly tapping the keyboard.

Sheng Wang saw a line appear in the notes:

There’s a nursery rhyme, called “There’s an Old Man Ding,” heard it?

Then another line appeared.

Does it look like him?

“Similar.”

Sheng Wang buried his head, laughing, Jiang Tian expressionlessly deleted the notes.

Thanks to this doodle, Sheng Wang had a hard time holding back laughter during the meal, but his mood was exceptionally good.

Maybe no one would believe it, but the most relaxed and enjoyable meal he’d had in a while was with Jiang Tian.

He suddenly thought, if he and Jiang Tian didn’t have that awkward “fake brother” relationship, but met normally, became classmates normally, and sat in front and behind each other, they would definitely be good friends.

But this thought quickly vanished, because on the way back to the exam room, Sheng Wang suddenly remembered the morning’s events.

He asked Jiang Tian, “You planned to go to the cafeteria at noon. Since we were meeting, why did you go out of your way to bring the correction notebook?”

Jiang Tian frowned slightly, “Didn’t you look at it before the exam?”

Sheng Wang was puzzled, “Why would I look at a chemistry correction notebook for math and physics exams?”

Jiang Tian’s expression went blank for a moment, as if he hadn’t considered this. He paused, then frowned again, “Didn’t you see the WeChat?”

“You sent me a WeChat?”

Sheng Wang grabbed his bag, pulling out his phone, saying, “Don’t you turn off your phone before exams?”

Jiang Tian’s expression went blank again, “I put it on silent.”

Before reaching the exam room, Sheng Wang opened his phone, finding a WeChat message from the morning.

Jiang Tian: Look at the correction notebook.

Sheng Wang was about to pull out the notebook, but Jiang Tian stopped him, “Forget it, don’t look.”

Sheng Wang: “Why?”

Jiang Tian said, “It’ll mess up your mindset.”

Sheng Wang: “???”

The more he said that, the more Sheng Wang wanted to look! He pulled out the correction notebook, and before he could open it, a piece of paper slipped out.

It was a page torn from a workbook, the edges rough. A question was marked with a red pen and a flamboyant star.

Sheng Wang picked it up, examining it closely, realizing it was a physics problem, very familiar. Though not exactly the same, it was extremely similar to the last big question on today’s physics exam.

Jiang Tian said, “The whole grade practiced this set, except you.”

“…”

As Jiang “Prophet” Tian predicted, Young Master Sheng’s mindset collapsed on the spot.

Despite being a bit dazed by the blow, Sheng Wang’s strong professionalism allowed him to regain his composure before the afternoon exams, turning grief into strength, and the remaining exams went smoothly.

The Affiliated High School’s exam results always came out quickly. The next day, a rumor spread in the second year, saying the handsome guy who transferred to Class A had improved his total score by nearly 50 points in a week, jumping nearly 100 places in the grade ranking.

The whole grade was in an uproar, the rumor spreading through one evening self-study session, only to be officially corrected by the teachers in the second session.

The real result of the weekly exam was: Sheng Wang’s total score improved by 62 points, with chemistry alone jumping from over 60 to 90, and his grade ranking rose by 127 places.

More people went crazy.