Watching the Setting Sun Along the Same Path - Chapter 9

When he logged in again, he found ten extra English lessons credited to his account. Lu Ketong felt a wave of comfort, realizing that love might be random, but friendship was forever—at least his friendship with Qiu Luomin was.

Lu Ruopei didn’t come home until almost bedtime. Lu Ketong went downstairs to heat up some late-night snacks for him and then lingered nearby, watching. “Aren’t you touched?” he asked.

Lu Ruopei snorted. “The words ‘I have an agenda’ are written all over your face.”

“My face is too small to fit three words,” Lu Ketong retorted, shaking his bangs. He pleaded, “Dad, I want to buy a motorcycle.”

Lu Ruopei ignored him, but Lu Ketong persisted. “So many kids in my class ride motorcycles, even some freshmen. I’m dying of envy. Please buy me one.” Wen Ning came downstairs and overheard part of the conversation. Anxiously, she said, “Riding a motorcycle is too dangerous. Don’t even think about it.”

“Hear that? Don’t even think about it,” Lu Ruopei added.

Lu Ketong slumped over the dining table. “I’m going to throw a fit.”

“What fit? Go to bed now,” Wen Ning said with a light laugh, patting his back. “No motorcycle, but we have several bicycles. You can try one of those first.”

After Lu Ketong stomped upstairs, rolling his eyes, Lu Ruopei said, “The school is so far away. Why let him ride a bike?”

Wen Ning yawned. “He won’t last three days. Once he experiences it, he’ll realize how comfortable it is to be driven around. Otherwise, he’ll keep pestering us for a month.”

The next day, the driver dropped him off at the school gate as usual and unloaded a bicycle from the trunk. As Lu Ketong pushed the bike toward the garage entrance, he stopped, turned around, and headed across the street.

Fei Yuan’s motorcycle was parked under a tree. Lu Ketong locked his bicycle next to it and walked away, feeling pleased.

“No wonder you’re here so early. You’re on duty,” Lu Ketong said as soon as he turned the corner of the stairwell and saw Fei Yuan mopping the hallway outside the classroom. He ran over to greet him, looking delighted.

Fei Yuan pushed him into the classroom, annoyed that he was taking up space.

Inside, Lu Ketong found the Chinese teacher had arrived even earlier and was sitting at the podium, checking each student’s recitation. Lu Ketong put down his backpack, grabbed his textbook, and went over.

He stopped after reciting the first line. The Chinese teacher asked, “What are you doing? Keep going.”

“Teacher, I actually didn’t memorize it.”

“You came over to joke around with me without memorizing it?” The Chinese teacher was strict and frowned. “Take your book outside and memorize it. Don’t come back for morning reading.”

Lu Ketong turned away, barely containing his laughter. He ran out and stood by the door, pressing close to the wall. Fei Yuan returned after rinsing the mop to mop the hallway a second time and saw him standing there as punishment, looking puzzled.

“Causing trouble first thing in the morning?”

“No, I came out specifically to keep you company. Go ahead and mop.”

Fei Yuan finished mopping in just two minutes, before the morning reading bell even rang. Lu Ketong held his book and asked eagerly, “Will you come out to keep me company again?”

“Are you crazy?” Fei Yuan replied coldly. “No.”

Lu Ketong laughed. “Just asking,” he said, then lowered his head to read. Fei Yuan glanced at him, sighed inwardly, stuffed a lollipop into his pocket, and walked away.

When morning reading began, the long hallway was empty except for him standing outside. The patrolling dean passed by and gave him a stern glare—truly unfair.

It felt like every day he came to school happily, only to end up feeling wronged.

The afternoon PE class finally brought a renewed sense of life’s true meaning. After dismissal, they went to play basketball, with the boys splitting into the same groups as they did for soccer. But when they did a headcount, they realized someone was missing.

“Lu Ketong’s not here.” Fei Yuan had just gone to the equipment room to grab a ball, and when he came back, Lu Ketong was nowhere to be seen.

“Ah, don’t worry about him. The basketball team’s practicing.”

“He’s probably drooling over there as a cheerleader again.”

“Our Lu—where the heart is big, the stage is big.”

Fei Yuan glanced into the distance and seemed to spot Lu Ketong watching from the sidelines. He withdrew his gaze, whistled, and started playing.

Lu Ketong sat cross-legged outside the court line, unafraid of getting hit by the ball. The players running back and forth were all tall and strong, dribbling and shooting, making his eyes sparkle with admiration.

Halfway through the class, everyone took a break. One of the players lifted his jersey and walked over, asking, “What grade are you in?”

Lu Ketong immediately stood up and introduced himself: “Second year of high school! My name is Lu Ketong! I’m pretty good with strength and endurance—can I join the basketball team?”

The other players laughed when they heard this, scanning him up and down before saying, “Seems like you can’t.”

“I’m really good at sports,” Lu Ketong insisted, picking up a ball from the ground. “Watch, I’m not just talking big.”

He dribbled forward, paused briefly at the designated spot, then jumped and shot. As the ball traced a parabola through the air, it hit the rim and bounced away.

Lu Ketong flushed with embarrassment, rooted to the spot, unsure how to save face. The ball that had rolled into the distance was picked up, and as it was dribbled back, the sound of it hitting the ground was particularly forceful.

Fei Yuan dribbled over, took a step under the hoop, leaped, and slammed the ball in with a heavy dunk. He clapped his hands, then walked up to Lu Ketong and asked, “Still not done visiting?”

Lu Ketong’s heart pounded wildly. He turned and followed Fei Yuan, walking over to the sink to wash his hands. “Can you join the basketball team?” he asked.

“Why?”

“If you join the basketball team, I can use connections to join too.”

Fei Yuan flicked water from his hands onto Lu Ketong’s face. “Do we have any connections?” Lu Ketong’s face turned even redder, his fingers gripping the edge of the sink tightly. So, they didn’t have any connections after all.

After school, Lu Ketong dragged his backpack strap and walked slowly, savoring the ups and downs of the day, so tired he just wanted to lie down and sleep. Looking up, he saw Fei Yuan had already crossed the street, so he hurried to catch up, as if suddenly energized again.

“I came by bike. Want to go together?”

Fei Yuan pushed his motorcycle onto the sidewalk. “How can a motorcycle and a bike go together?”

Lu Ketong hopped on his bike and followed closely. “You ride slow, and I’ll ride fast.” Fei Yuan started his motorcycle, looking ahead. “I have to take the motor lane. How are we supposed to go together with a green belt in between? Be careful.”

With that, he merged into the traffic, accelerating toward the next intersection. When he turned the corner, he glanced back—the little sapling was still standing there, his expression unclear.

That night, the group chat was filled with nonsense, but Lu Ketong remained silent the whole time.

A night passed, and the sky brightened without the sun, gloomy and overcast. Arriving at school, he saw the familiar bicycle, with Fei Yuan’s motorcycle parked beside it. Entering the classroom, Lu Ketong sat at his desk reading a book, unusually quiet.

He passed by, taking the mop out, and when he returned, passing by again, Lu Ketong remained bent over his studies, head down, never speaking or looking up at him. The entire morning passed, and aside from going to the restroom, Lu Ketong never left his seat.

Nor did he turn around.

Fei Yuan thought, the little sapling had completely quieted down.

During the last self-study period, the sky suddenly darkened, followed by a few rumbles of thunder. No one could focus on studying anymore, craning their necks to look outside. Those who had brought rain gear showed off, while those who hadn’t questioned their life choices.

The rain finally began to fall, accompanied by the sound of the dismissal bell. The class monitor quickly packed his bag and headed out, asking as he passed by, “Fei Yuan, did you bring an umbrella?”

“No.”

“I didn’t either, but I have a girlfriend. I’ll go find her, bye!”

Fei Yuan chuckled softly, quietly packing his things. When he finished, he noticed Lu Ketong still hadn’t moved. As the sound of his zipper closing echoed, Lu Ketong turned around.

“I’ll lend you my umbrella. I don’t need it.”

Lu Ketong placed the umbrella on Fei Yuan’s desk, then hugged his backpack and left. Fei Yuan picked up the umbrella and followed behind, watching as Lu Ketong dashed into the rain.

There were too many people trying to hail a taxi. He waved until his arm felt like it would fall off, but still couldn’t get one. He really missed the taxi drivers.

“Lulu, come with me.”

Lu Ketong turned around and saw Fei Yuan holding his small floral umbrella. He stammered, “What did you call me?”

Fei Yuan grabbed him and crossed the street, then wiped the seat dry and half-pushed, half-lifted him onto the motorcycle, stuffing the umbrella into his hands. The engine roared to life, and Lu Ketong wrapped one arm around Fei Yuan, burying his face into his back.

Halfway through the ride, the rain grew heavier, so heavy that the umbrella could hardly be held steady. Fei Yuan’s front was already soaked through. When they stopped at a red light, he took off his jacket and draped it over Lu Ketong, shielding him from the rain.

Lu Ketong said, “Why are you like this?”

“Like what?”

Why are you so unpredictable? Lu Ketong was utterly confused. When the light turned green, he wrapped his arms around Fei Yuan again, struggling to hold the umbrella steady. After what felt like an eternity, they finally turned onto the street where he lived.

Raindrops pounded down heavily, pooling into puddles on the ground. The motorcycle sputtered and stalled. They pulled over to the side of the road, and Lu Ketong stepped off onto the sidewalk, still holding the umbrella over Fei Yuan.

“Go home. I’ll push the bike to a spot with less water at the intersection, and it’ll start up again.”

Lu Ketong shook his head. “Take the umbrella. I’ll run back.”

“Stop dawdling,” Fei Yuan said, shivering from the cold. “I’m already soaked through. What do I need an umbrella for? Just go home.”

Lu Ketong shouted, “I said I’m giving you the umbrella! I don’t want it anymore!”

As the last word left his lips, Fei Yuan grabbed his clothes, pulling him forward so abruptly that he nearly stumbled. Then, Fei Yuan pressed him tightly against his chest. The umbrella slipped down, blocking everything from view. All he could hear was the sound of the rain.

They were pressed close together, his back straight as Fei Yuan held him firmly. Fei Yuan stared at him, his eyes red and timid. “Did you measure today? Have you grown taller?” Fei Yuan lowered his head, resting his forehead against Lu Ketong’s.

Lu Ketong didn’t know where to look. “No.”

Fei Yuan nuzzled him with the tip of his nose. “It’s fine if you haven’t. Lu Ketong, there’s no turning back now.” Before Lu Ketong could ask what he meant, Fei Yuan tightened his hold, and then his lips met Lu Ketong’s cheek.

After the cheek came the lips.

Fei Yuan kissed Lu Ketong, not daring to be too rough because the other was already stiff with tension. He couldn’t help but think, Lu Ketong, did you really think I was that easy to pick up? It’s because I had my eye on you ever since you threw a tantrum while holding that little floral umbrella.

Lu Ketong wanted to cry. “You’ve been cold to me, and you’ve been giving me attitude.”

“You’re so unreliable. I had to see if you were genuine or just messing around.”

“Have you seen enough now?”

Fei Yuan wiped the rain from his face and said, “Not originally, but you were so well-behaved today that my heart softened.”

Lu Ketong finally burst into tears, pouting as he clung tightly to Fei Yuan and cried uncontrollably. He felt embarrassed but couldn’t hold back, sobbing, “My first kiss, which I guarded for fifteen years, is gone…”

“Not happy about it?”

He cried until he hiccupped. “Can’t I cry tears of joy?”

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