Chapter 16: Asking for Leave
On Saturday, Wugang County No. 3 Middle School buzzed with the anticipation of weekend freedom.
As Xiahou Ming entered the classroom, she felt an invisible thread coiling around her, its other end tied to Ling Yicai.
Ling Yicai greeted her with a smile, placing a bottle of warm milk on her desk.
But today, her movements seemed rehearsed, the smile stiff, not reaching her eyes.
Xiahou Ming didn’t notice the subtle strain.
Her mind lingered on yesterday’s arcade chaos—the sweet orange soda still tingling on her tongue, the echo of Yu Yuhui’s “come again next time” pulsing with each heartbeat.
Her eyes drifted to the classroom’s corner.
Yu Yuhui, as always, was buried in a book, detached from the world.
Ling Yicai was unusually attentive all morning, flitting to Xiahou Ming like a restless butterfly.
“Xiao Ming, you got this problem wrong. Use this formula—let me show you.”
“Your posture’s bad. Hunching over hurts your eyes.”
Xiahou Ming felt more irritated than ever.
She wanted to savor yesterday’s fleeting “freedom,” but had to fend off Ling Yicai’s persistence.
“Don’t know.”
“Didn’t notice.”
“Oh.”
When Ling Yicai approached again, with the flimsy excuse, “Your pen’s out of ink—use mine?” Xiahou Ming snapped.
“What’s wrong with you today?” She glared, frowning. “You’re annoying.”
Ling Yicai’s smile froze.
After the second class, during the day’s final ten-minute break, Ling Yicai approached again, her smile gone.
Her gaze fixed on the unopened milk bottle.
She’d noticed Xiahou Ming rarely drank at school.
With a thud, she slammed an unopened Jianlibao on the desk.
“Drink it.”
“Not thirsty.”
“Drink it!”
Ling Yicai’s voice spiked, jealousy, hurt, and anger from a sleepless night and morning bursting out.
“Xiahou Ming, what do you want? Do you enjoy humiliating yourself!?”
“What’s your problem today?” Xiahou Ming, stunned, stood, anger flaring. “You on something?”
“Me?” Ling Yicai’s eyes reddened, voice cracking. “I’m worried about you! Don’t you get it? What are you scared of? That you’ll need the bathroom after drinking!?”
Silence fell like a blade.
She’d struck Xiahou Ming’s hidden shame, leaving her speechless.
“Come on!” Ling Yicai grabbed her wrist, ignoring her resistance. “I’m going with you!”
“Let go! Are you crazy?”
Xiahou Ming struggled, but her strength was no match for Ling Yicai’s resolve.
Their scuffle drew the class’s attention.
Lin Xiaomei’s mocking voice rang out: “What’s this? Class beauty fighting with Sister Ming? Need the bathroom? Want me to clear it for you?”
“Shut up, all of you!” Ling Yicai whirled, her voice near-hysterical, raw with anger and heartbreak. “Is this funny? You’re all idiots chasing drama! Mock this again, and I’ll…”
Her fury choked her words, red eyes glaring.
It was Ling Yicai’s first public outburst.
The class froze, stunned by her ferocity.
As the noise died, she dragged Xiahou Ming out.
Passing Yu Yuhui’s seat, Xiahou Ming glimpsed her looking up, eyes calm but fixed on Ling Yicai’s white-knuckled grip.
The women’s restroom reeked of disinfectant and cheap soap.
Ling Yicai shoved open a stall, pushed Xiahou Ming in, and stood guard like a sentinel.
“Go,” she said, her voice softened but tired. “I’m here. No one will laugh.”
Xiahou Ming stood in the cramped stall, dizzy with humiliation, hearing other girls’ laughter outside.
Even dragged here, how could I go now?
She stood for minutes, then walked out, expression blank.
The morning’s final class bell tolled like a death knell.
As it rang, Xiahou Ming stood, itching to flee to her and Yu Yuhui’s “secret base.”
But Ling Yicai was faster.
Like a hunter, she packed her bag and blocked Xiahou Ming’s path.
“Xiao Ming, I talked to Teacher Wang.”
“What?” Xiahou Ming’s heart sank.
“The school’s rehearsing for the anniversary this afternoon,” Ling Yicai said, her smile returning. “I told Teacher Wang you’re unwell, no activities.”
“And me—” she paused, “I forgot my recorder, so I can’t go.”
“So I asked for a home visit in the class’s name to see your aunt and give advice.”
She took Xiahou Ming’s hand, gentle but firm. “I got leave for you too.”
“Let’s go home.”
Xiahou Ming was dragged out of school with “legitimate” reasons, no chance to glance at Yu Yuhui’s corner.
*
On the rooftop, the wind howled, sweeping away the school’s last traces of life.
Yu Yuhui sat alone on the concrete guardrail.
Beside her, as yesterday, were two aluminum lunch boxes.
She didn’t read or gaze at the view.
She just waited.
After a while, she looked down at the path to the school gate.
She saw two figures.
Ling Yicai, holding Xiahou Ming’s hand, half-dragging her, strode ahead like a triumphant queen.
Xiahou Ming, head bowed, followed like a soulless puppet.
Their backs vanished behind the camphor tree at the gate.
Yu Yuhui stared for a long time, expressionless.
Silently, she opened a lunch box and ate the cold meal alone, bite by bite.