Gu Changheng initially planned to have Uncle Zhao drive Zhou Li home, but Zhou Li insisted on walking back, saying that he “liked walking and wanted to exercise.”
Gu Changheng reluctantly accepted his decision and bid farewell to Zhou Li at the restaurant’s entrance.
Watching Zhou Li’s back, dressed in a yellowing school uniform and carrying his backpack, completely disappear from his view, Gu Changheng finally got into the car and sat in the passenger seat.
Uncle Zhao said, “That classmate of yours doesn’t seem like the type you usually hang out with! His family conditions don’t seem that good.” He found it refreshing since Gu Changheng typically avoided children from poor families.
Gu Changheng replied with a distracted “Hmm,” pulled his gaze away, and said, “Uncle Zhao, let’s go home.”
“Alright.”
…
As Zhou Li walked toward his aunt’s house, he felt particularly happy.
He had actually shared a meal with Gu Changheng.
It was hard to imagine that Gu Changheng used to play with those second-rich generations who were dressed in designer clothes and spending large amounts of money and didn’t even glance his way. But tonight, he actually shared a dinner with him.
Zhou Li recalled Gu Changheng’s words.
—There aren’t many boys who like boys. It is especially not easy to meet someone like you. I feel quite lonely, and I guess you do too!
—Ah Li, you and I are the same. We can be friends and hang out together.
Zhou Li had always thought that his attraction to boys was something shameful, which caused him to feel despair. But now, just thinking about Gu Changheng’s encouraging words made him feel so happy that he wanted to fly.
He suddenly felt very fortunate that he was homosexual and was of the same kind as Gu Changheng. Otherwise, how could he have experienced such a luxurious thing as having Gu Changheng take the initiative to be friends with him!
As he passed through the old neighborhood, the further west he went, the more dilapidated it became. Zhou Li didn’t want Gu Changheng to know that he lived in such a rundown place, for fear that he would look down on him. He was also anxious about Gu Changheng finding out about his father being a drug addict and that he was currently staying with his aunt.
Zhou Li wanted to maintain a good image of himself in Gu Changheng’s eyes, which was why he had refused the ride and insisted on walking home.
The night passed in silence.
The next day, Zhou Li arrived at school on time. Just as he settled into his seat, Gu Changheng walked over and tapped on Zhou Li’s desk, as if it was something natural. “Zhou Li, did you finish your English and math homework from yesterday?”
“I did.”
“Lend it to me so I can copy it. I was busy playing games last night and didn’t do it,” Gu Changheng said. “The teacher will be checking homework soon.”
“But my English isn’t good. I probably got a lot wrong,” Zhou Li hesitated. “Why don’t you borrow from someone else?”
“Hey, do you still treat me as your brother? We just had dinner together yesterday, and now you won’t lend me your homework? That’s not very loyal!”
“No!” With Gu Changheng’s words, Zhou Li couldn’t refuse any longer. He pulled out his math and English homework from his backpack, gritted his teeth, and handed them into Gu Changheng’s hands. He said, “My grades are not good. I made a lot of mistakes—”
“Got it, got it!” Gu Changheng interrupted Zhou Li after he got the English and math homework. He appeared anxious and quickly took Zhou Li’s homework books back to his seat and began copying them.
As he copied the homework, Gu Changheng found that Zhou Li did not lie. His homework was indeed riddled with mistakes. It was clear that Zhou Li’s academic performance was really poor, especially in English, where it was simply unbearable to look at, it was just so bad.
