Unbridled 10

Lin Wuyu’s departure from home probably seemed extremely spontaneous.

When Ding Ji asked him where he was going to move all these things, he realized that Lin Wuyu didn’t have a destination in mind at all.

After a few seconds of silence, Lin Wuyu sighed and leaned against the table, saying, “Forget it.”

“What?” Ding Ji was still busy stuffing a charger base into a box.

 

“I’m not taking these things with me.”

 

‘Are you fucking with me right now?’ Ding Ji looked up at him but didn’t say anything.

Lin Wuyu looked somewhat bewildered, perhaps due to emotional distress.

Ding Ji didn’t say anything and instead began taking everything out of the box and putting each item back in its original place.

 

After Ding Ji had finished, Lin Wuyu said, “Your memory is really good. I can’t even put my own things back where they were.”

 

“You’ve exhausted me. Don’t think that a few compliments will make me less angry,” said Ding Ji.

 

“I only gave you one compliment, not a few,” Lin Wuyu smiled. “Do you need another?”

 

“No thanks,” said Ding Ji. “I have a good temper.”

 

Lin Wuyu only took some clothes with him.

 

Books, various figurines, several drones, and a pile of related equipment were all left behind at home.

 

Ding Ji drove him and sent him back to school.

 

The suitcase wasn’t very big, but their mode of transportation was an electric scooter, which made it a bit difficult.

 

Ding Ji’s idea was that since the suitcase wasn’t too heavy, he could just sling it behind him, but Lin Wuyu forcibly stuffed the suitcase between the two of them, citing safety concerns.

 

“I’m telling you,” Ding Ji was unhappy, “It’s only because I don’t know anyone here that I’m not going to argue with you. If we were back home, with me sitting stiffly like a fried egg, I wouldn’t even want this scooter. You’d drive it back yourself.”

 

“Fried egg?” Lin Wuyu repeated behind the suitcase. “Fry what egg? How are we frying it?”

 

“Fry my egg!” Ding Ji yelled. “What do you mean, “how are we frying it”! You flatten it and then you fry it!”

 

After pausing for a moment, Lin Wuyu began to laugh wildly, shaking the car as he laughed.

 

“Laugh, keep laughing,” Ding Ji scowled. “Laughing makes you ten years younger. Try to laugh your way back into your mother’s womb, so you won’t have to argue with your parents and run away from home.”

 

​​”That won’t do,” said Lin Wuyu. “I’m here now.”

 

His words were spoken casually, but his tone was arrogantly forceful, conveying a meaning that could only be inferred. Ding Ji couldn’t help but turn his head to take a look. 

 

Unable to see Lin Wuyu’s expression, he could only see his calm eyes peeking out from above the suitcase.

 

It was a steadfast gaze that seemed difficult to provoke.

 

When he returned to the dormitory with his luggage, he didn’t encounter anyone. Most people had gone home for the weekend, and those who hadn’t were in the cafeteria or classroom.

 

Lin Wuyu took Ding Ji’s book and returned to the school gate.

 

“Thank you,” he handed the book to Ding Ji.

 

Ding Ji took the book and was stunned when he saw the book cover on it. “Why did you wrap it up like this?”

 

“I’m afraid of it getting damaged or dirty,” Lin Wuyu said. “It’s your family heirloom, isn’t it?”

 

“Have you finished reading it?” Ding Ji smiled and put the book in the back of his electric bike.

 

“I read it twice,” Lin Wuyu said. “Finishing it and understanding it are two different things. I looked at my hand afterwards, but there wasn’t much to compare.”

 

“Feeling embarrassed to read your classmate’s hands?” Ding Ji raised an eyebrow and held out his hand. “Take a look at my hand for me.”

 

“I’ll treat you to something to eat,” Lin Wuyu smiled and pushed his hand away. “You’ve been busy helping me, it’s been tough for you.”

 

Ding Ji was much more easily swayed when it came to sticking to his determination to go home on time and study well. Although he left school early today to pick up the book to avoid escalating family conflicts, he didn’t hesitate to send Lin Wuyu back home and then come back.

 

Helping others is a good thing, after all.

 

Ding Ji didn’t refuse when Lin Wuyu invited him to eat. After all, it was already late, and he didn’t want to pressure himself.

 

Ding Ji sighed inwardly, he was just making excuses not to go home. Besides, eating before going home could help him avoid being lectured about his diet at the dinner table.

 

“I thought we would just grab some noodles or fast food,” Ding Ji whispered.

 

Lin Wuyu had taken him to a delicate little restaurant several streets away from the associated middle school. There was even an incredibly pretentious mini artificial lake behind the restaurant, which was almost as big as a swimming pool.

 

“Do you want to eat noodles?” Lin Wuyu asked.

 

“I don’t mind eating noodles, but I won’t refuse if you treat me to rice.” 

 

“Dream on!” 

 

“Do you want to sit by the lake?” Ding Ji followed him in. “Are there mosquitoes here? It looks like it’s an outdoor area, and there are so many plants all around.”

 

“No,” Lin Wuyu replied simply.

 

After the two sat down by the table next to the swimming pool, or rather, the artificial lake, Lin Wuyu said to the waiter, “Light the mosquito coil, please.”

 

“Shall I bring the mosquito repellent lamp over for you?” the waiter asked.

 

“Bring the kind of coil that smokes,” Lin Wuyu insisted. “Thank you.”

 

The waiter walked away, and Ding Ji looked at him. “Didn’t you say there were no mosquitoes?”

 

“Just light the mosquito coil and they’ll be gone,” Lin Wuyu said. “If not for you attracting mosquitoes, I wouldn’t be at risk of being bitten all night.”

 

“I attract mosquitoes?” Ding Ji asked. “Are you sure?”

 

“Aren’t those four bumps on your left arm mosquito bites?” Lin Wuyu asked in return.

 

Ding Ji glanced at his arm; one, two, three, four. He hadn’t even counted them himself.

 

“It’s pretty uncommon to get bitten like this at this time of year,” Lin Wuyu said.

 

“Alright,” Ding Ji scratched the small red bumps on his arm.

 

The waiter brought over a plate of mosquito coils, lit them, and placed them half a meter away from the table.

 

Lin Wuyu stretched out his leg and pushed the mosquito coil under the table.

 

“Look at me,” Ding Ji leaned back in his chair.

 

“What am I  looking at?”

 

Ding Ji was looking down, and the smoke from the mosquito coil rose slowly from under the table and surrounded him.

 

“My friend,” Ding Ji said to him through the smoke. “Today, you are witnessing my ascension to the immortal realm. I presume that makes us destined to meet…”

 

He was cut off by a coughing fit from the smoke.

 

Lin Wuyu used his foot to push the mosquito coil back to its original position, but the smoke still drifted towards him.

 

“Can’t you just fortune-tell it or something? I feel like you’re probably going to ascend to immortality soon,” said Lin Wuyu. “You can’t escape it.”

 

“I’ll sit next to you,” Ding Ji stood up.

 

Lin Wuyu moved over to make room.

 

As Ding Ji was making his way over, two people walked out of the door.

 

Lin Wuyu initially thought they were a couple there to enjoy the artificial romantic night view, but after a glance, he realized they were students from the associated middle school.

 

The boy wore track pants with the affiliated middle school emblem, and the girl was even more obvious, wearing a school uniform skirt.

 

Lin Wuyu hesitated for a moment and turned to Ding Ji, who had just sat down next to him. “You go sit over there.”

 

Almost everyone at the affiliated middle school knew him, especially after his speech on the rooftop.

 

He didn’t care how others saw him, whether it was gossip or misunderstandings. However, he didn’t want Ding Ji to be misunderstood, even though no one knew who Ding Ji was.

 

“What?” Ding Ji looked at him inexplicably.

 

“I want you to sit back over there,” Lin Wuyu said.

 

Ding Ji’s expression showed that he was about to say something snarky.

 

“I’m going to sit here,” Ding Ji said. “If you don’t like it, you can sit on the opposite side. What’s the problem?”

 

The two students had already looked over, and Lin Wuyu stood up.

 

“Eat shit,” Ding Ji was angry and stood up and walked out.

 

Lin Wuyu sighed and grabbed Ding Ji’s wrist, then pushed him back into his seat across from him.

 

“Sit,” Lin Wuyu told him.

 

“Huh?” Ding Ji rubbed his wrist but didn’t move.

 

Lin Wuyu sat back down and let go.

 

The situation had gone from ‘Lin Wuyu suspected of having dinner with his boyfriend’ to ‘Lin Wuyu suspected of arguing with his boyfriend during dinner’…

 

There was no way to fix the situation now.

 

Lin Wuyu felt a bit emotional. He had no experience coming out and suddenly ran into this kind of situation, and he didn’t handle it well.

 

It didn’t matter, he could handle it better next time.

 

“That’s a student from your school,” Ding Ji’s gaze was fixed on someone behind Lin Wuyu.

 

“Uh-huh,” Lin Wuyu responded.

 

“What’s wrong, don’t want people to see the academic god hanging out with an unemployed youth? I even went to your school to look for you,” Ding Ji sneered. “Besides, do you really think I’m an unemployed youth?”

 

“What would you be, if not for that?” Lin Wuyu said.

 

“I’m a Year 3 at No.3  High School,” Ding Ji said.

 

“Wow.” Lin Wuyu expressed his surprise calmly. “You know that No. 3 and Fu Middle School are arch-rivals? I thought you were going to say something about No. 8 or No. 7.”

 

“Fuck you.” Ding Ji reached into his bag, pulled out a problem set, and slammed it in front of him. “See for yourself!”

 

Lin Wuyu glanced at it. It really was a book for Grade 3, and he had the same problem set.

 

But…

 

“Grade 3, Class 379.” He looked up at Ding Ji. “Shi Xiangyang. Where did you find this book?”

 

“He’s my desk mate,” Ding Ji said.

 

Lin Wuyu laughed and tilted his head, laughing uncontrollably.

 

“He’s really my desk mate…” Ding Ji was a little unhappy.

 

“Okay,” Lin Wuyu turned back and pushed the problem set back in front of him after laughing for a while. “Seriously, if you want to read these, I have them and I can lend them to you. I can explain anything you don’t understand.”

 

“Hmm?” Ding Ji looked at him. “You’re pretty free, aren’t you?”

 

“Not free, I’m very busy,” Lin Wuyu said. “I just think… Anyway, if you really want to read them, just tell me.”

 

“Okay,” Ding Ji nodded. “So why didn’t you let me sit next to you?”

 

Lin Wuyu didn’t say anything.

 

“I’m so angry,” Ding Ji squeezed out the words from between his teeth. “I’ve never been humiliated like this in public before. If I didn’t know you were an honest person, you would have been…”

 

“Beaten into the brightest beyblade tonight,” Lin Wuyu said.

 

“…Yes,” Ding Ji narrowed his eyes. “Pay attention next time! Don’t steal my lines.”

 

“When you were reading my palm,” Lin Wuyu raised his left hand and held it in front of him, “could you see my love fortune?”

 

“Didn’t I tell you last time,” Ding Ji swept his hand over his palm and waved his fingers a few times. “Your love life might not go smoothly.”

 

“Can you see anything else?” Lin Wuyu asked.

 

“What do you want to ask?” Ding Ji tilted his head and looked at him with his eyes peeking out from his palm.

 

“Sexual orientation,” Lin Wuyu said.

 

Ding Ji was stunned for a few seconds before realizing what Lin Wuyu meant.

 

He really couldn’t tell.

 

He didn’t even think about it.

 

But this news, although unexpected, was not a big deal for him.

 

The atmosphere became a bit awkward because Ding Ji didn’t respond.

 

“You’re not…,” Ding Ji moved Lin Wuyu’s hand away from his face, “interested in me, are you?”

 

Lin Wuyu’s right eyebrow raised and his expression suddenly changed.

 

It was all laughter.

 

But it looked like mocking.

 

“I’m really not,” Lin Wuyu said. “you’re thinking too much, mister.”

 

“Is that so?” Ding Ji also raised his eyebrow. “But it was you who first came to talk to me.”

 

“Is that so?” Lin Wuyu raised his eyebrow. “But it was you who climbed over the wall to find me in school.”

 

“Is that so?” Ding Ji continued to raise his eyebrow. “But it was you who came to read my fortune.”

 

“Is that so?” Lin Wuyu switched to the other eyebrow. “But it was you who lent me your book first.”

 

“Is that so?” Ding Ji also switched sides. “But it was you who wanted to help me win a rice cooker by shooting baskets.”

 

“It was you who insisted on sending me home and helping me carry my luggage,” Lin Wuyu squinted his eyes.

 

“It was you who insisted on treating me to a big meal,” Ding Ji also squinted his eyes.

 

Lin Wuyu smiled.

 

“You’re out of arguments now, aren’t you?” Ding Ji was very proud.

 

“Why are you being so persistent about whether or not I have feelings for you?” 

 

“……What?” Ding Ji was puzzled. “I’m just not used to it! From childhood to adulthood, it’s always been others having thoughts about me!”

 

“Me too,” Lin Wuyu took a sip of tea.

 

“That’s not the same!” Ding Ji quickly caught his loophole. “You’re someone who’s had a failed secret crush.”

 

“Oh,” Lin Wuyu thought for a moment. “I almost forgot.”

 

“Okay,” Ding Ji waved his hand. Originally, he was trying to ease the awkwardness of the situation, but he didn’t know how far he had gone off course after arguing for so long. “So you’re afraid that those two at the affiliated middle school will think that you… No, they didn’t even say hello, so they shouldn’t know who you are… Ah! Do you have a boyfriend and you’re afraid they’ll spread rumours?… No, you don’t even know them, who knows who your boyfriend is… Ah! Is it because you’re open about it? Are you being so brazen…”

 

Lin Wuyu didn’t say anything either, just took a sip of tea and watched Ding Ji’s confused analysis.

 

“Ah! You’re not running away from home today, are you? Are you being kicked out because of this?” Ding Ji finally slammed the table.

 

“Is this your usual process for fortune-telling people?” Lin Wuyu asked.

 

“No, no way. This analysis is too basic and doesn’t match my status in the world,” Ding Ji said. “I’m just a little… what you said was a bit sudden.”

 

“Oh,” Lin Wuyu nodded. “I was overthinking it. I’m just worried they’ll misunderstand you.”

 

“…Aren’t you afraid of being misunderstood yourself?”

 

“I don’t care,” Lin Wuyu smiled. “The protagonist doesn’t care about the opinions of passersby.”

 

Ding Ji gave him a thumbs up. “You’re not even embarrassed to say that.”

 

“I wouldn’t let you see it if I was,” Lin Wuyu retorted honestly.

 

“So, did you get kicked out of the house because of this?” Ding Ji sighed.

 

“I can only say that it’s the surface reason,” Lin Wuyu also sighed. “Anyway, I’m out now.”

 

“Will this affect your studies? The college entrance examination is coming soon,” Ding Ji said.

 

“No, it won’t,” Lin Wuyu said easily.

 

Ding Ji didn’t ask any further. The couple from the affiliated middle school behind Lin Wuyu had been looking at them the whole time, which made him very unhappy.

 

“What did you even do at your school? They’re getting too worked up about watching the excitement,” Ding Ji said. “I’m going to get angry.”

 

“Go ahead,” Lin Wuyu smiled.

 

Ding Ji didn’t hesitate at all. He turned his head and shouted, “That’s enough, how about you two come over here and play a game of table tennis with us?”

 

There was no sound from the other side, and Lin Wuyu didn’t look back. He could probably guess what was going on.

 

“I thought you were going to swear at them,” he said to Ding Ji.

 

“Not really,” Ding Ji said. “I don’t usually get into trouble over things like this.”

 

The couple probably had other activities planned, and they left soon after finishing their meal.

 

When they left, Lin Wuyu had finished eating, but Ding Ji ate slowly… Of course, it could also be that he ate too fast.

 

“Are you finished eating?” Ding Ji asked.

 

“Yeah, take your time,” Lin Wuyu said.

 

“Do you not need to chew your food?” Ding Ji frowned. “Isn’t your stomach upset? My grandmother said you must chew your food thirty times to be healthy.”

 

“That’s only if there’s still food in your mouth,” Lin Wuyu said. “I only need to chew three times and it’s just air left.”

 

“You…” Ding Ji still frowned.

 

“Stop talking and eat your food,” Lin Wuyu said.

 

His phone rang twice in his pocket, but he didn’t see who it was before the other person hung up.

 

But then it rang again.

 

It was his mother’s number.

 

Lin Wuyu stood up and walked over to the railing beside him, leaning against it and answering the phone.

 

Even from a distance of about two meters, Ding Ji could clearly hear the angry voice of a woman on the phone.

 

It was like a machine gun, continuously shooting and breaking Lin Wuyu’s arm over and over. He didn’t even hold the phone up to his ear anymore, but just let his arm hang and stared blankly at the small lake.

 

It didn’t take guessing to know that it was Lin Wuyu’s mother who called.

 

It’s just that the way Lin Wuyu was completely indifferent before caught Ding Ji off guard. This phone call caused Lin Wuyu to look a bit dull.

 

Ding Ji couldn’t understand. Although he always argued with his own parents, their ultimate goal was still the exams. The way Lin Wuyu’s family went overboard and didn’t consider their son’s upcoming college entrance exams at all…

 

Ding Ji put down his chopsticks, walked to Lin Wuyu’s side, and took the phone from his hand.

 

“Hmm?” Lin Wuyu was startled and turned to look at him.

 

Ding Ji tapped the screen and hung up the phone.

 

But the instant he hung up the phone, he heard the woman on the other end shouting, “Have you ever thought about us?! What if you get sick? What if you get hurt…”

 

This made Ding Ji suddenly panic. ‘Fuck? Should I… not have hung up?’

 

“Thank you,” Lin Wuyu patted his arm.

 

“Let’s go,” Ding Ji said, “I’m done eating.”

 

Lin Wuyu glanced at the half-eaten food in his bowl and didn’t say anything, just called the waiter to pay the bill.

 

“Is your mother worried about you?” Ding Ji felt a bit guilty. “I thought she was scolding you, so I hung up…”

 

“She was scolding me,” Lin Wuyu smiled.

 

“I didn’t hear wrong, did I?” Ding Ji was stunned. “She scolded you so subtly?”

 

“My parents… are very worried that I’ll get sick, injured, or even go missing,” Lin Wuyu said. “But it’s not the kind of worry you will understand.”

 

After leaving the restaurant, Ding Ji asked, “Is the person you asked me to find your brother or sister?”

 

“My brother,” Lin Wuyu paused in his steps.

 

“Is your brother missing?” Ding Ji asked again.

 

“Sort of,” Lin Wuyu thought for a moment. “He ran away from home.”

 

“Does it have anything to do with you?” Ding Ji couldn’t help but ask.

 

“What does it have to do with me?” Lin Wuyu sat on his electric bike and smiled. “Before he left, I was just air at home.”