Orange Storm chapter 27
Mountain Climbing
The National Day holiday was officially seven days long, but for the seniors in high school, especially those in the flexible schedule batch like the third-year class, the school decided to cut it down to just three days. Even during the last math class before the break, the tension and anxiety were palpable as the clock ticked away.
“Three days off, classmates, and we’ve wasted three days of study time. Make sure to study at home. While others are on vacation, surpass them by continuing to learn,” the teacher urged.
Meanwhile, Xu Hang, unfazed by the teacher’s advice, lowered his voice and said, “Meet at the park entrance at nine tomorrow morning.”
Being bold and unrepentant, he dared to speak out despite the teacher’s warnings.
In the evening, Jiang Zhijin lounged on the couch playing video games. He wore a white cotton pajama set, reclining on the sofa, with the cheerful sounds of Candy Crush emanating from his phone. A small cat crawled over and curled up on his chest. The pajama collar was pulled slightly askew, revealing a patch of skin.
Fang Xing, having finished showering, walked out and witnessed this scene.
As he halted at the doorway, Jiang Zhijin looked up at him. Lifting the cat and placing it aside, he sat up a bit.
“Done washing? Come over and take your little brother away.”
“…”
The little cat, temporarily named without an official name, was usually called “Cat” by Fang Xing, but Jiang Zhijin went a step further, often referring to it as “your little brother” when Fang Xing was around.
Fang Xing walked over, patting the cat, which was busy sharpening its claws on the sofa, as a warning. Then he turned to Jiang Zhijin.
“If it’s my little brother, what am I to you?”
Jiang Zhijin paused the game, finally diverting his attention. “My son.”
“Speak properly.” Fang Xing looked at Jiang Zhijin. “Otherwise, tonight I’ll let my little brother pee on your bed.”
Jiang Zhijin finally paused the game, smiling as he looked at him. “Then what else do you suggest? If I also call you ‘little brother,’ will you call me ‘ge’?”
Without waiting for Fang Xing to respond, he took the initiative to test the waters. Lying on the sofa, he looked at him, nodding slightly with interest and saying, “Try calling me ‘ge’ and see how it sounds.”
Fine, he lost. Fang Xing sighed in his heart. Jiang Zhijin was more shameless than him.
After a good laugh, Jiang Zhijin sat up straight. “Alright, alright, let’s give it a name. How about ‘Tang Yuan’?”
Fang Xing glanced at the cat, white with black patterns, curled up like a small sesame dumpling, indeed resembling an unstuffed sesame Tang Yuan.
… Anyway, it’s better than ‘your little brother’. Fang Xing thought to himself. “Sure.”
“I’ll be going out tomorrow for a classmate’s birthday. Is that okay?” Fang Xing said.
“Sure, where are you going?”
“To the West Mountain,” Fang Xing replied. “We plan to go mountain climbing.”
Jiang Zhijin immediately thought of Li Xingyan. “Is this most people’s idea of entertainment? Inviting someone to go mountain climbing?”
“Xu Hang insisted on gaining a broader perspective by climbing high and showcasing the vitality of being eighteen,” Fang Xing said, sighing slightly as he spoke. However, Jiang Zhijin’s words made him curious. He paused and asked, “What do you mean by most people’s ‘ideas of entertainment’? Have you been invited to go mountain climbing by someone else?”
Fang Xing glanced at Jiang Zhijin. “Yes, by Li Xingyan.”
Oh.
Besides, considering that Jiang Zhijin could wake up at eleven and still be considered an early riser, receiving a call at seven or eight in the morning to go mountain climbing would likely make him snap.
“You didn’t go, did you?” Fang Xing said. “Asking you to wake up early is almost like asking for your life.”
“…Don’t talk to people like this at school,” Jiang Zhijin sighed. “I’m worried that one day you’ll get beaten up, and Tang Yi will have to call me.”
“Say that to yourself.” Fang Xing felt that he had been talking a lot lately, especially in the banter with Jiang Zhijin. It didn’t fit the image of a “cold and aloof study god” given by the girls in the class.
“Over the years, you must have been beaten up a lot.”
“Not really because I have a sweet mouth. After teasing someone, I call them ‘ge,’ unlike some people who can’t even learn to address someone older than them by ten years.”
Jiang Zhijin responded effortlessly, turning to look at Fang Xing sitting beside him. Leaning slightly forward, he smiled with interest, and in a leisurely tone, he moved closer.
“Have you learned it, Fang Xing ge?”
With his hair just dried, falling on his forehead and ears, and wearing a milky-white pajama set, Jiang Zhijin appeared softer. His eyes carried a hint of teasing as he focused on Fang Xing’s face.
Fang Xing’s first thought was: This guy really deserves a good beating.
This thought only lasted for a few seconds. Then, his second thought surged forth, overpowering the initial one and vividly presenting itself in his mind.
—This guy is actually quite good-looking.
After teasing Fang Xing, Jiang Zhijin straightened up the next moment. “Do you want to make a quick visit home during the National Day?”
He used the term “home,” and Fang Xing actually took a second to understand that he was referring to Chaocheng.
“No, I won’t go.” Fang Xing said. “The three-day holiday is quite short. I called my mom last night, and she said she’ll be on a business trip during the holiday and won’t be in Chaocheng.”
Fang Xing made the call last night, and Zhou Ling was packing her bags. She sounded calm, asking about his studies and life, as well as the timing of the three-day holiday during the National Day. She advised him not to come back since she would be on a business trip.
Zhou Ling’s exact words were, “I’ll be on a business trip, and there’s no one at home. You coming back would be a wasted trip. Rest well for two days.”
She didn’t mention Fang Chenglin at all, but Fang Xing understood. Fang Chenglin probably wasn’t at home.
Before hanging up, Fang Xing couldn’t help but ask Zhou Ling when she planned to divorce Fang Chenglin. Zhou Ling’s response was evasive, “I consulted a lawyer recently. Unless he voluntarily gives up, the possibility of getting him out in our situation, even with infidelity, is not high.”
Fang Xing didn’t ask any further and didn’t call Fang Chenglin after hanging up.
Jiang Zhijin nodded to indicate that he understood. He looked at Fang Xing sitting beside him and suddenly reached out to ruffle his hair.
“Okay, be good and wait for me here in these three days.”
The next morning, when Fang Xing woke up, Jiang Zhijin hadn’t gotten up yet. Tang Yuan, on the other hand, was already wandering around in the living room early in the morning. When Fang Xing came out, Tang Yuan meowed and circled around him. Fang Xing changed the water and fed it before leaving.
Xishan Park was located in the north of the city. It took Fang Xing about forty minutes by bus. By the time he arrived at the park entrance, it was almost nine o’clock, and surprisingly, he was the second to arrive.
The first was Jiang Xinxin and another girl from their class, the one who had asked Fang Xing questions last time. If he remembered correctly, her name was Chen Yao.
Both of them were wearing sportswear, standing at the entrance of the park, radiating youthful energy. When they saw him, Jiang Xinxin smiled and waved at him. He approached, and only then did she speak.
“You’re here early.”
“You guys are even earlier.” Fang Xing glanced around. “Has Xu Hang not arrived yet?”
Chen Yao immediately complained, “Just called him, he said he’s stuck in traffic, will be here soon. Probably overslept.”
Fang Xing nodded, not knowing what else to say. It wasn’t until Chen Yao asked, “Study god, have you finished your homework?” that he felt a bit overwhelmed.
“… Just call me Fang Xing.” Fang Xing couldn’t take it anymore. “Haven’t finished yet, only halfway done.”
Chen Yao clapped her hands twice and exclaimed, “Wow, that’s impressive. I haven’t even opened mine yet.”
Fang Xing could only turn his head and look ahead, waiting for Xu Hang and the others to arrive. Fortunately, Jiang Xinxin and Chen Yao were already discussing a recently released movie.
In a few minutes, he saw Xu Hang holding a bag, leading a group of people running towards them.
“Why are you so late?” Chen Yao patted Xu Hang’s shoulder. “You dared to call us to be on time yesterday.”
Xu Hang quickly picked up the bag in his hand. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I went to buy water for you.”
In addition to the three of them, Xu Hang also brought two people, both from their school, two boys from the next class. They seemed to get along well with Xu Hang, and Fang Xing had played basketball with them before, so they weren’t complete strangers. The group chatted and walked into the park, with Chen Yao making fun of Xu Hang while also helping distribute the water.
West Mountain was inside the park, not too high or famous, known only to the locals. However, most of the mountains were covered with maple leaves, turning red in autumn and winter, which was quite beautiful.
Since it was the first day of the National Day holiday, there were quite a few people climbing the mountain. When they started going up, they even had to wait in line for a while. During the climb, several boys wanted to compete for speed, but the trail was crowded, and they could only move forward with the flow.
“Oh my god, oh my god,” Xu Hang looked up at the crowd ahead. “I thought I was in the city center.”
“This is how it is during the National Day holiday.” A boy from the next class sighed. “Last night when I said I was going to climb the mountain, my mom laughed at me, saying I was counting heads.”
It wasn’t as exaggerated as that, but it was close to being surrounded by people. All the way, people were taking photos, having picnics, resting, and it was quite lively. There were even grandpas carrying birdcages climbing the mountain.
Fang Xing looked at the time. Even if they were delayed a bit at the entrance, it was only about nine forty now.
People were still in good spirits. Jiang Zhijin had mocked their way of entertainment last night. It would be nice to let him see—oh, he should still be sleeping now.
Fang Xing couldn’t help but smile.