My Favorite Ship Became My Sister-in-Law - Chapter 11

I Have Fallen Out of Love

“Why was it for Auntie He? Why not for yourself?”

Shi Yue smiled, but he did not answer. He Lin wanted him to take the path of a recommended student through the Math League, so he would take it. Obeying He Lin was enough. Whether he was willing or not did not matter at all.

This was the first time Shi Yue had avoided answering one of Ji Chenchuan’s questions directly. Ji Chenchuan did not press further; if Shi Yue did not want to answer, there was surely a reason.

“I believe you can definitely do it!” Ji Chenchuan encouraged him.

The path to a recommended spot was truly arduous. One had to win first, second, or third prize at the provincial level from the League matches. Only those with a first-prize standing had a chance to be selected for the provincial team. The personnel and size of the provincial team were determined by the National Math Society. Only members of the provincial team were eligible to participate in the finals to compete for national prizes. From the national first-prize winners, the country would select 50 to 60 students as members of the national training team. Only those selected for the training team would receive the qualification for recommendation to universities like Tsinghua or Peking University.

This was why Shi Yue had to break into the provincial first-prize rankings.

Clearly, Ji Chenchuan’s encouragement meant a lot to Shi Yue. Under the warm white light, Shi Yue’s dark, bright eyes shone even more brilliantly than usual. He flashed a handsome smile and said, “With that sentence from you, Brother Chenchuan, I will definitely break into the provincial first-prize ranking.”

Shi Yue told Chenchuan to sleep first. He said he wanted to do another timed test. He had run into Tang Yao at the bookstore today, and Tang Yao mentioned that he could finish 100 problems from the Blue Book in 85 minutes. He could not be slower than Tang Yao.

The Blue Book was a must-have for math competitions, and Shi Yue had basically finished it already. Now, he mainly worked through practice exams and researched advanced problems from Olympiad Classics. It was Tang Yao’s words today that made him suddenly want to test his own speed.

What Shi Yue needed most right now was a quiet environment, so Ji Chenchuan stood up and left the room.

It was almost midnight, and his parents and Ji Zhiruo were all asleep. When he returned, Ji Chenchuan held a bowl filled with peeled, snow-white fresh walnut kernels.

“You said you wanted to eat them earlier, so eat some before you start your problems,” Ji Chenchuan said, handing the bowl to Shi Yue.

Shi Yue was just about to start. Seeing the bowl, he grinned happily and looked up at Ji Chenchuan. “I do not want to move, but I want to eat. So, please, Brother Chenchuan, be kind and feed this lazy bum!”

As he spoke, Shi Yue opened his mouth like a baby bird waiting to be fed.

Ji Chenchuan hesitated for a moment before picking up a piece of walnut and placing it in Shi Yue’s mouth.

In truth, Shi Yue did not particularly like walnuts, but today’s walnuts seemed extraordinarily delicious. He did not know if it was because of the person feeding him. He kept his mouth open for Ji Chenchuan to feed him until he had finished half a bowl of walnuts, still feeling a bit unsatisfied.

Ji Chenchuan acted like the logistics department. Once Shi Yue was finished, he took the bowl to the kitchen, returned quietly to the room making as little noise as possible, and lay down to sleep.

His bed was a large 1.8-meter bed. Shi Yue loved to roll around while sleeping, a fact Ji Chenchuan knew better than anyone. Therefore, he slept right on the edge, occupying only a quarter of the bed and leaving three-quarters for Shi Yue.

Shi Yue worked on his problems until one o’clock and then did homework for other subjects. By the time he finished everything and checked the clock, it was already three in the morning.

Shi Yue had to put in more effort than others. Aside from preparing for the competition, he could not neglect his other subjects. Even with a hundred times, a thousand times, or ten thousand times the effort, no one could guarantee 100% success in securing a recommendation. If he failed, he would have to rely on the College Entrance Examination to get into Tsinghua or Peking University.

Shi Yue packed up his books. Seeing the wide space Ji Chenchuan had left for him, he muttered, “Am I a pig? Why do I need so much space to sleep?”

The next morning, reality proved that he was indeed a space-hogging little pig.

At six o’clock, his biological clock woke him up. Shi Yue opened his eyes to find he had rolled over to Ji Chenchuan’s side, and Ji Chenchuan was nowhere to be found.

Shi Yue sat up abruptly and called out, “Brother Chenchuan!”

Just then, the door to Ji Chenchuan’s room opened. Ji Chenchuan walked in, drying his wet hair with a towel. He had not heard Shi Yue call him; he just happened to be coming in. Seeing Shi Yue sitting on the bed alertly and staring at him, a slight smile touched the corner of his mouth as he asked, “What is wrong?”

“You are already back from your run?” Shi Yue stared at Ji Chenchuan and asked in surprise. To his knowledge, Ji Chenchuan went for a run every day. Shi Yue used to go with him every morning, rain or shine.

“I did not go today.”

As he answered, Ji Chenchuan took a neatly folded white T-shirt and a black shirt from the closet, placed them in a tote bag, and set it on the bed.

Shi Yue let out an “Oh” of surprise. Seeing Ji Chenchuan packing clothes, he asked, “Are you going somewhere?”

“No, I am putting these in the car. I have been visiting construction sites lately, and they are full of dust, so I need to change.”

“Oh.”

“What time do you go to school? I will drop you off.”

“I usually leave at six-twenty and arrive by six-fifty.”

“Classes do not start until seven-fifty. Why go so early?”

“There are fewer people early on. I like to memorize vocabulary in the hallway.”

“Oh no, my bicycle!” After answering Ji Chenchuan, Shi Yue suddenly remembered that his bicycle was still downstairs at the bookstore. He did not even know if it was still there. That bicycle was bought by Ji Chenchuan when Shi Yue was in his third year of junior high.

Shi Yue jumped out of bed, anxious to find his bicycle. He told Ji Chenchuan he would be back to call for him in three minutes and urged him to hurry up. With that, he dashed out of Ji Chenchuan’s house like a whirlwind.

Ji Chenchuan wanted to say something, but Shi Yue was already gone. Looking at the sheets and blankets that had been rolled into something resembling a dog’s nest, Ji Chenchuan massaged his forehead in exasperation.

Shi Yue rushed into his own home, washed up, and changed into his school uniform as if his hair were on fire. He usually drank a glass of hot milk every morning, but at the thought of his bicycle, he lost all interest. He grabbed his keys and headed out. When he emerged, he saw Ji Chenchuan already holding his school bag and pressing the elevator button for him.

As expected of the best neighborly brother in Shi Yue’s heart, Ji Chenchuan understood him perfectly.

In the underground parking lot, without needing to be prompted, Ji Chenchuan opened the passenger door for Shi Yue, then walked around to the driver’s side and drove off. At the parking lot exit, Ji Chenchuan stopped the car briefly. There was a middle-aged woman who sold milk there every day. Although it was a small business, she understood her customers’ needs. Knowing that some customers liked hot milk in the morning, she had a small stove with a steamer pot on it, filled with heated fresh milk.

Ji Chenchuan bought a bag of hot milk for Shi Yue. He knew Shi Yue had the habit of drinking a glass of hot milk in the morning; it had always been that way at his house since they were kids. With how fast he was running today, he surely had not had any.

Shi Yue took the milk. He really was not in the mood to drink it, but since Ji Chenchuan had bought it for him, he could not bear to refuse. He inserted the straw, took a big gulp, and then suddenly said dejectedly, “I have fallen out of love.”

Ji Chenchuan was just merging into the main road. Hearing this, he, usually as steady as a mountain, looked at Shi Yue in shock. The hand on the steering wheel faltered for a second. He had thought Shi Yue was unhappy because his bicycle was lost, not because Shi Yue was in a puppy love relationship.

The sharp honking of a nearby car snapped him back. In that moment of distraction, Ji Chenchuan nearly swiped another vehicle. He quickly corrected the steering and settled into the main road.

“My bicycle must have run off with someone else. It does not want me anymore,” Shi Yue said slowly and sadly.

Ji Chenchuan: “…”

After a long pause, Ji Chenchuan said as if secretly relieved, “Finish your sentences all at once next time. Do not pause like that anymore. It is quite terrifying.”

“Oh!” Shi Yue was still gloomy.

Seeing Shi Yue’s pitiful, sulky look, Ji Chenchuan did not have the heart to hide it from him anymore. He said the bicycle was not lost. He knew the manager of the Xinhua Bookstore and had asked him to move the bicycle into the store. He told Shi Yue to just go pick it up directly after school.

Upon hearing this, Shi Yue was instantly overjoyed. The milk in his hand suddenly tasted much better. He took two large gulps. If Ji Chenchuan were not driving, Shi Yue would have given him a huge hug. He really loved that bicycle.

“Do you really like that bicycle that much?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Ji Chenchuan regretted it. Why would he ask such a brainless question? Of course one likes their own things.

“You were the one who bought it with me. I still remember the day we bought it; you gave me a ride and we specifically went around the park once before going home,” Shi Yue said, smiling as he recalled the scene.

Back then, he was in his third year of junior high, and Ji Chenchuan was a sophomore in university. That park had a river running through it with very clear water. Willow trees were planted along the banks, and people often sat under them to fish. When the breeze blew, the willow branches swayed. Ji Chenchuan had given him a ride, and they cycled along the riverbank, counting how many willow trees were planted along that stretch of the river until it was almost dark.

“I really want to go and count the willow trees again. We were interrupted last time. When summer vacation comes, it will be my turn to give you a ride to count them, okay? Brother Chenchuan.”

The reason Shi Yue liked the bicycle was a bit surprising to Ji Chenchuan, but his sophomore self was even more surprising to think he would accompany Shi Yue in doing such a childish thing. Facing Shi Yue’s invitation now, Ji Chenchuan felt a bit reluctant to agree, but seeing the expectant look in Shi Yue’s eyes, he found himself unable to refuse. He nodded and said, “Okay!”

“You promised. You are not allowed to go back on your word.”

“Have I ever gone back on a promise I made to you?”

“Let me think…” Shi Yue pretended to think very seriously.

“You still have to think about it?” Ji Chenchuan laughed in spite of himself. They happened to be waiting at a red light, so he let go of the steering wheel and gave Shi Yue’s head a playful rub. “I have never gone back on a promise I made to you. What a bratty ‘good kid’ you are.”

Shi Yue looked up and laughed, saying shamelessly, “If you think I’m bratty, then hit me! I promise I will not hit back.”

That brazen look made it obvious he knew Ji Chenchuan would never hit him. Ji Chenchuan indeed would not hit him; he only furrowed his brows. He was truly spoiled. Ji Chenchuan smiled helplessly. The light turned green, so he withdrew his hand and drove across to the opposite lane. After another 300 meters, they arrived at the affiliated middle school.

A broader smile spread across Shi Yue’s face. He knew Ji Chenchuan would never have the heart to hit him. When he was little, he often rolled Ji Chenchuan’s bed into a mess, and Ji Chenchuan would say he was going to hit him every day, but it always ended the same way with a helpless smile.

They arrived at the school fifteen minutes earlier than Shi Yue usually did. The school gates were not open yet, so Ji Chenchuan parked the car nearby and sat with Shi Yue to wait. There was no traffic right now, but during peak hours, the area around the school would be completely congested.

At six-fifty, the gates opened. Ji Chenchuan drove to the entrance, pulled over to the curb, and let Shi Yue out. Shi Yue got out but did not enter the school immediately. He stood by the road and watched until Ji Chenchuan’s car merged into the traffic and could no longer be distinguished. Only then did he enter. Suddenly remembering something, Shi Yue grabbed his phone and quickly dialed Ji Chenchuan’s number.