Chapter 71: The Taoist Master Is Somewhat Troubled

Ding—

On Saturday afternoon, as the final class ended, the classroom erupted into unprecedented excitement.

Nothing soothes the soul quite like a holiday.

Even Lin Mengqiu, who was always so studious and competitive, could not keep her composure when the bell rang. The usually serene look on the girl’s face softened.

She relaxed her tense shoulders, her brows unfurled gently, and she let out a breath in the most adorable way.

That delicate sigh, light as a stretched thread of cotton, would have escaped others’ notice, but not Chen Shian’s.

He glanced at her, surprised to discover that even their diligent class president could be cheered by the prospect of a holiday.

After a brief moment of relaxation, Lin Mengqiu, like everyone else, swiftly began to pack her things.

Chen Shian could feel the festive atmosphere in the classroom—it was almost like New Year’s. If only it were allowed, he had no doubt someone would light a string of firecrackers to celebrate.

Unscrewing the cap of his mineral water bottle, Chen Shian drank the last mouthful, then tucked the empty bottle neatly into his desk.

“Why don’t you just get yourself a water bottle?”

Perhaps because she was in a good mood, this was the first time that day Lin Mengqiu had spoken to him of her own accord.

“A mineral water bottle works just as well.”

Chen Shian had noticed that, apart from him, everyone else had a proper bottle or cup for their water.

“How long have you been using that one?”

She eyed the old bottle—its label long gone, the plastic slightly creased—and couldn’t help but twitch at the corner of her eye.

“Six months and nine days, I think. I filled it up before leaving the mountain.”

She fell silent, uncertain whether to praise his memory or his thriftiness.

Despite the missing label, the red cap and size revealed it to be a 550ml bottle of Nongfu Spring, costing one and a half yuan.

But who doesn’t throw out such bottles after drinking them? Who else would use the same one for half a year?

The class president was at a loss, and suggested tactfully, “Using that kind of bottle for so long isn’t good. If you’re short on money, I can lend you some to buy a new one.”

“You mean a new bottle of mineral water?”

“...?”

Is that what I meant?

The girl couldn’t help but imagine the worst—this annoying exorcist must have left the bottle’s rim tainted with stale saliva after so long!

Chen Shian finished packing his things. As he slipped his books unceremoniously into his bag, just as he did every day after evening study, Lin Mengqiu couldn’t help but remark,

“You have a whole day tomorrow. Aren’t you taking any books home to study?”

“Huh? Isn’t it a holiday?”

Lin Mengqiu had never imagined she’d be left speechless by such a self-assured answer.

“You’re not going to study at all? Just play?”

“It’s not really playing. I have to find some hills tomorrow, gather some herbs.”

“Hiking?”

“Mm, just wandering around. Would you like to come along, President?”

She said nothing, merely showed him the back of her fair, delicate hand, where a red bump from a mosquito bite had appeared at some point. The message was clear: Do you want me to be carried away by mosquitoes?

“Don’t worry, there won’t be any mosquitoes with me.”

“No, I’ll be studying.”

“All right.”

“What herbs are you looking for?”

“I’ll see what’s growing in the hills. Anything useful I’ll gather.”

“There won’t be much in the developed scenic areas.”

“I know. That’s why I’m planning to visit the less-travelled hills.”

“...Be careful.”

“Thank you for your concern, President.”

Seeing that he hadn’t even taken his English textbook, Lin Mengqiu left him be.

Truth be told, she rather admired him. His foundation was so weak, yet he still had the leisure to go hiking and gather herbs.

She herself could never manage that. If it were her, she’d at least wait until after the college entrance exams… No, after university… No, after finding a job… No, after retirement, before she could really relax.

On the mountain…

Was it really true there would be no mosquitoes with him…?

For some reason, Lin Mengqiu, always so diligent, found herself tempted by his invitation.

Yet she was the type to refuse even a simple class dinner, and now she was actually interested in strenuous hiking…

No, definitely not! There must be so many mosquitoes! She wasn’t going!

Better to stay home and study, and maybe organize some high school math, physics, biology, and chemistry materials for him. The lazy exorcist was so lax—how could she, as class president, just sit by and do nothing?

Well… thinking this way, Lin Mengqiu felt justified. If not for her role as class president and her father’s request, she wouldn’t bother with him at all.

Having packed up, she slung her backpack over her shoulder and stood up. Chen Shian did the same, pushing in his chair, and the two left the classroom one after the other.

…

Just after class, the stairwell was crowded.

The press of bodies was even greater than at lunchtime.

In the narrow, cramped corridor, Lin Mengqiu was forced to press against Chen Shian.

She recalled the other day, squeezed alongside Wen Zhixia on the stairs, but this felt entirely different.

Both wore short-sleeved uniforms. Every accidental brush of their arms sent little ripples through her, like pebbles dropped into a still pond.

Having never been so close to a boy before, Lin Mengqiu’s heart beat out of rhythm, all her consciousness fixed on the spot where their arms touched.

Perhaps it was the stuffy corridor, but she felt her face growing hot, her usually cool expression slowly giving way to confusion.

Lost in her thoughts, she missed a step. As she stumbled, she instinctively grabbed Chen Shian’s arm like a lifeline.

It was a strong, solid arm.

His warmth seeped through her palm, electric and alive.

Though she was the one who grabbed him, it felt as if some force from his arm steadied her instantly.

She was certain her palm had started to sweat.

And that sweat must have left a sticky mark on his skin.

Would he be disgusted?

This blunt exorcist—would he say, “President, you dirtied me”?

If it were her, she’d be mortified if a boy’s sweaty palm touched her arm.

Sure enough, Chen Shian spoke.

“President.”

“…”

“Your hand is so cold—like stepping barefoot on tile in winter.”

“…”

Lin Mengqiu felt her cheeks burn, her ears growing hot.

Annoying exorcist! Couldn’t he be more gentlemanly and pretend nothing happened? She wished she’d twisted his arm a full three-sixty when she grabbed him.

Fortunately, Chen Shian said no more.

Finally, they reached the wide exit on the first floor. As the crowd dispersed, Lin Mengqiu quickly put some distance between them.

“So many people,” Chen Shian remarked.

Lin Mengqiu said nothing, afraid her voice would betray her still-racing heart.

…

They walked along the campus path.

The evening breeze whisked away the corridor’s stuffy air.

The sunset hung crookedly on the eaves of the teaching building, gilding the gray cement path with warm gold, stretching the shadows of the two walking home together.

It was Lin Mengqiu’s first time going home with someone else—her first time bringing someone to her house.

She didn’t tell Chen Shian the way, simply walked ahead, silently leading, only occasionally glancing sideways to check if he was keeping up.

Chen Shian, unlike her, wasn’t so quiet.

“President, do you only go home during holidays?”

“Mm.”

“How long does it take to walk?”

“Eighteen minutes.”

“I heard Uncle Lin say you live to the left after leaving the school gates?”

“Yes.”

“Uncle Lin’s actually cooking tonight?”

“It’s Saturday.”

“Why are there so many people at the school gate?”

“With everyone leaving at once, lots of parents come to pick up their kids. They control the traffic and direct the flow out.”

Since they had to wait in line, Chen Shian and Lin Mengqiu walked unhurriedly, while many classmates hurried past, carrying large bags.

“Did Uncle Lin say what he’s making for dinner? I’d like to try his cooking.”

“He—”

Before she could answer, familiar footsteps approached quickly from behind, and a small hand patted Chen Shian’s right shoulder.

“Exorcist!”

“Oh, Xiaozhi? Why are you so slow?”

Chen Shian turned to his right. The girl who’d tapped his shoulder, now walking beside him, was Wen Zhixia, large bags in hand, heading home to celebrate her mother’s birthday.

Their quiet was broken by this sudden arrival, and Lin Mengqiu looked over as well. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and her fingers curled by her side.

Wen Zhixia again…

After the classes were split, she rarely saw her outside the honor roll. Yet now, both the girl and her name kept appearing before her.

They had once shared a desk, but now, passing each other on the path, they acted like strangers.

Wen Zhixia seemed not to notice her, looking only at Chen Shian, speaking only to him.

“I wasn’t slow! There are so many people. I came out as soon as class ended. You’re the one who’s slow—stuck on the second floor.”

No one knows their rival better than themselves, and Lin Mengqiu detected every implication. She was walking with Chen Shian, yet Wen Zhixia deliberately excluded her, saying “you’re slow,” not “you both.”

“The school gate’s so crowded. In a bit, you—”

While Chen Shian and Wen Zhixia spoke, Lin Mengqiu suddenly interjected, answering the question Chen Shian had asked before:

“He said he’s making ginkgo chicken, five-spice braised ribs, chopped chili fish head, and silverfish omelet.” She’d just not had the chance to answer earlier.

Chen Shian paused, finally turning his head to look at Lin Mengqiu.

“Uncle Lin’s making such a feast? I thought it’d be a simple meal.”

Beside them, Wen Zhixia, as if not hearing, said, “Exorcist, help me carry these!”

“Why so many books? It’s only one day—”

“My dad asked if you have any dietary restrictions.”

“Not really—”

“Oh! Last time I said I’d recommend an English movie. Have you seen ‘The Legend of 1900’?”

“No—”

“We’re out of drinks at home. What do you want? I’ll buy some.”

…

Lin Mengqiu and Wen Zhixia, their speech growing faster, each speaking to Chen Shian, soon left him overwhelmed.

He had no idea how he ended up in this predicament!

Couldn’t they all talk on the same channel for once?

Though the three walked together, a subtle tension grew between the two girls, which Chen Shian could hardly ignore.

“Ahem—!”

As both girls waited for his reply, Chen Shian suddenly coughed, then clamped his mouth shut, then opened it as if to speak, only to cough again.

“Got a hair—cough—stuck in my throat—cough!”

Lin Mengqiu: “?”

Wen Zhixia: “?”

Hmph!!

Both girls snorted inwardly, finally falling silent.

Chen Shian walked in the middle, Lin Mengqiu on his left, Wen Zhixia on his right.

The three maintained this peculiar atmosphere, neither speaking nor parting ways, until they lined up at the school gate and exited together.

Clearly, continuing like this was impossible. Chen Shian felt as if he were finally being released from prison.

He tried to hand Wen Zhixia her bag, but she ignored him, making no move to take it.

Lin Mengqiu was more direct—once outside the gate, she turned left and walked off, already five meters away.

Chen Shian couldn’t help a quiet word to Wen Zhixia, waiting for her bus, “Aren’t you going to take your bag?”

“Oh, so your cough is cured?”

“…”

“It’s heavy—help me a bit longer. If you’re in a rush, just leave it on the ground.”

How could he just leave it there!

Meanwhile, Lin Mengqiu, having walked on ahead, stopped and looked back, her gaze clear—Are you coming or not?

Chen Shian hesitated.

Even with all his experience, he was truly at a loss.

“Aren’t you coming?” The question in her eyes became words.

“Wait for me.”

“How long?”

How would he know?

Luckily, the 247 bus arrived just then, and Wen Zhixia finally took her bag from his hand.

“See you, bye.”

“Bye.”

Chen Shian exhaled in relief and hurried after Lin Mengqiu.

“Exorcist! Don’t forget what you promised to bring me!” Wen Zhixia called after him.

He looked at Lin Mengqiu ahead.

Her face instantly turned cold…