My Mister Ostrich

 Convention in Shanghai
Gu Mingxi, you’re rebelling?! You actually dared to kick me?!

Pang Qian and Gu Mingxi started their second year of junior high.

The schoolwork gradually increased because of the addition of physics and chemistry. Gu Mingxi seemed like he was born to learn. When he studied, he did it with ease. After each exam, he would be 1st in the grade. Xie Yi’s performance went up and down, his rank unstable.

Xie Yi didn’t perform well on the midterm. Teacher Cao even sought him out to talk about it.

Xie Yi returned to the classroom as if nothing were wrong. He still called for a few kids to go and play. Pang Qian was a bit worried about him, and unwittingly linked arms with Sun Mingfang and followed them out.

When they were walking down the stairs together, Pang Qian put on a light tone and asked him, “Xie Yi, what did Teacher Cao say to you?”

“Nothing much. She just scolded me for doing so poorly on the exam.” He kept bouncing the ping pong ball against his paddle. He smiled and said to Pang Qian, “Actually, scoring 9th in the whole grade isn’t bad. Being 1st or 2nd right now doesn’t mean much. As long as I test into First High next year, it’s okay.”

Although First High wasn’t the best of the upper tier high schools, it was still ranked. Xie Yi had his sights set on it because it had the best gymnasium, equipped with the highest end, most professional ping pong table. The city’s student ping pong tournaments were also held there.

Xie Yi told Pang Qian this reason, and Pang Qian stared at him blankly, thinking he was so cool.

Hearing Xie Yi’s answer, she looked at him admiringly, then asked, “Can you guarantee that you’ll be able to test into First High?”

“Pretty much,” Xie Yi grinned, his voice full of confidence.

Xie Yi had already grown a lot taller at that time. Just like Gu Mingxi said, spring was the time to grow. His bones grew taller, his muscles firmed. Xie Yi had long, slender limbs. His hands had even gotten bigger, not as tender and white as when he started junior high. It looked more like a man’s hand. Probably because he played violin, his fingers were especially pretty. When they moved, they were so agile and graceful, not at all stiff and rough like the other boys’.

Pang Qian lifted her head slightly to look at him, and felt that he was becoming more and more handsome.

Since they’d just taken their midterms, no one was willing to stay in the classroom during the free activities period. The ping pong tables were full, and Xie Yi had to talk to some people before he was able to get one. He pushed up his sleeves and quickly started battling with someone.

There was a railing next to the ping pong tables. Pang Qian and Sun Mingfang leaned against the railing, whispering. They were facing the ping pong tables, but they also faced the school building.

While Pang Qian was talking, she casually lifted her head up and looked towards the window to her classroom. Suddenly, she saw a silhouette by the window, and Gu Mingxi’s face flashed by and disappeared.

“Coward,” Pang Qian said quietly to herself. Sun Mingfang asked, “What did you say?”

“Nothing,” Pang Qian immediately shook her head. Then her attention shifted back to Xie Yi, battling at the ping pong table.

Xie Yi really was a shining star. He really put his all into it when he played. Eyes focused, posture natural and unrestrained, just like a professional athlete. The other kids crowded around his table to watch him play. Each time he made a good play, the crowd would burst out in applause. There were a lot of girls from other grades watching Xie Yi too, their heads bumping and whispering together.

Pang Qian was watching the crowd when Sun Mingfang asked her, “Crab, Xie Yi wants to get into First High. What about you? Which zhong high school are you going to go to?”

Under Gu Mingxi’s supervision, Pang Qian’s scores had become very stable in this second year. Each exam, she would rank in the top 20. From Origin of Flight’s graduation records, the fast class’ top 20 students all had reasonable chances to get into a zhong high school. So at this point, Pang Qian had already become an honor student in her class.

Even though she didn’t like chemistry and she thought it was hard, Gu Mingxi never went easy on her. He knew that Pang Qian was like a spinning top. She moves a little, and if you don’t make sure to watch her, she would become a dead crab.

Pang Qian looked at Xie Yi’s fit body not so far away from her and said quietly, “I also want to get into First High. Their entrance score isn’t that high, easier to get into than Guangcheng and Ninth High. It’s just a little far away.”

Sun Mingfang giggled and said, “You want to get into First High because of Xie Yi.”

“No… I thought about it based on my own abilities. If Xie Yi went to Guangcheng, would I also go there? Isn’t that just looking for my own doom?” Pang Qian did her best to defend herself. She wasn’t willing to admit her intentions towards Xie Yi.

Sun Mingfang smiled, then asked again, “Then what about Gu Mingxi? Is he going to Guangcheng or Ninth?”

Pang Qian stopped in astonishment.

That’s right, Gu Mingxi’s scores were really good. He always scored a bunch of points more than 2nd place. He would definitely get into one of the best high schools in E City, Guangcheng or Ninth High.

Pang Qian suddenly thought of her original intentions for wanting to get into a zhong high school. At the time, it was because her dad promised that if she could get in, they’d move to the new housing complex. Then she’d be able to stay neighbors with Gu Mingxi.

But if Gu Mingxi got into Guangcheng or Ninth High, and she went to a different school, wouldn’t they still be separated? If that were the case, then what was the point of her deal with her dad?

Pang Qian lowered her head, and said a bit dejectedly, “I don’t know what school Gu Mingxi’s going to go to. In any case, whatever school he gets into, I wouldn’t be able to get in.”

“Says who.”

A clear, teenage voice rang in her ears. Pang Qian suddenly lifted her head and saw Gu Mingxi standing not too far away.

He was wearing a navy blue track jacket. His brows were slightly crinkled, revealing an displeased expression.

Gu Mingxi had also grown a lot taller. He’d be considered tall compared to the other students in class. He had a pair of long legs and wide shoulders that completely filled out his track jacket. Only, the sleeves under the shoulder were empty, and they would sway slightly as he walked.

Gu Mingxi walked over to Pang Qian’s side, and leaned against the railing like she did. Pang Qian glanced at him, “Why did you come down?”

“I can’t come down? This is a free period.” Gu Mingxi had already lost his soft, little boy voice. His voice was rich and clear. It suited his gentle manner of speech and was very pleasant to listen to.

Pang Qian had a habit of quarreling with him. She pointed up to the classroom window, towards where his seat was. “You were just up there. I saw you, and then you tried to hide.”

“I didn’t hide. I saw you guys playing here, so I came down.” Gu Mingxi smiled slightly, exposing his two canine teeth. Pang Qian couldn’t stop from saying, “I told you not to show your teeth when you smile! It looks childish! I told you to get your teeth straightened, but you won’t go!”

“Why would I do that?” Gu Mingxi closed his mouth, then looked at Pang Qian for a bit. Then he opened his mouth in an exaggerated manner, showing two rows of white teeth. “Look, my teeth are healthy.”

“Ah! Close your mouth! Stupid!” Pang Qian pushed him away. His body swayed a bit, then his eyes bent and he smiled.

Sun Mingfang was watching Pang Qian and Gu Mingxi quarrel. At this moment, she felt she had to chip in, “Actually, Gu Mingxi’s canine teeth are really cute. He doesn’t need his teeth straightened.”

Gu Mingxi smiled at her. He lifted his chin triumphantly, and said to Pang Qian, “Look at how good Sun Mingfang’s sight is.”

“Get away!” Pang Qian pushed at Gu Mingxi’s back. “Why did you come down here?”

“I came to watch you play ping pong, Pang Pang.” He wasn’t at all angry that she’d pushed him. Pang Qian stopped then. Sun Mingfang was watching the two of them, and just then, they were changing players for the game. She immediately went up to play.

This left Pang Qian and Gu Mingxi on their own at the railing. They were silent for a moment, then both of them spoke at once.

Pang Qian, “You…”

Gu Mingxi, “You…”

Pang Qian, “…”

Gu Mingxi smiled, “You first.”

Pang Qian thought of the question she was speaking to Sun Mingfang about earlier, and asked, “Gu Mingxi, which high school are you planning to go to? Guangcheng? Or Ninth High?”

“Why do I have to go to either Guangcheng or Ninth High?” Gu Mingxi looked at Pang Qian and asked, “Aren’t you going for First High?”

“…” Pang Qian was silent for a moment, then admitted with a nod. “Mm.”

“I’m also going to First High.”

Pang Qian raised her head toward him in surprise. Gu Mingxi smiled at her, “What, I can’t?”

“Why?” Pang Qian didn’t understand. “First High and Guangcheng can’t be compared at all. You can obviously get into Guangcheng.”

“But Guangcheng might not accept me.” Gu Mingxi shruged his shoulders, tilted his head, and looked at his own empty sleeved. “Just like two years ago. Just because my scores are good enough, that doesn’t mean they’ll take me. High school isn’t compulsory. And during Year 2 at Guangcheng, some students are chosen for a foreign exchange program. In Year 3, a lot of people try to get into the nation’s best universities. There are always a few people who get into Tsinghua or Peking University. That kind of school, to be honest, will be pretty tough for me to study at.”

The things he talked about were things Pang Qian had no idea about. Foreign exchange, national universities, Tsinghua and Peking? They were things she didn’t even dare think about. She stared at Gu Mingxi, a bit unsure of his thoughts.

Then Gu Mingxi said softly, “And if I were to go to Guangcheng, I probably wouldn’t know anyone there. If I think about it, it really doesn’t seem worth it.”

His tone was very serious, but Pang Qian said heartlessly, “Ha! Are you afraid that there will be no one to help you in the bathroom?”

Gu Mingxi’s face reddened, and said annoyed, “Pang Qian!”

Pang Qian laughed out loud. Gu Mingxi was so angry that he gave her a kick. He didn’t use any strength, like it was just for show. But Pang Qian acted like a rabbit that had been bitten, jumping up high, and then punching him with her fist. “Gu Mingxi, you’re rebelling?! You actually dared to kick me?!”

Gu Mingxi couldn’t block her, nor did he want to, so he just went along with it. He knew Pang Qian was like him, just playing and not putting her strength into it.

Xie Yi happened to be changing out with another player, and saw Pang Qian hitting Gu Mingxi. Laughing, he walked over to them.

As he walked, he took off his jacket and tied it around his waist, revealing his short sleeved white t-shirt inside. After the workout, he and his shirt were covered in sweat. His hair was a bit wet and messy. When Pang Qian saw his slightly flushed cheeks and bright as star eyes, she immediately stopped herself.

“Crab, you’re bullying Gu Mingxi again.” Xie Yi walked over to their side and frowned at Pang Qian. She immediately responded softly, “I wasn’t.”

Her shy appearance wasn’t something that Gu Mingxi was used to. Xie Yi wasn’t affected by it though. He felt that standing was too tiring so he sat against the railing. “Crab, you’ve been here for awhile already. Why haven’t you played any games? Sun Mingfang even played two rounds.”

Pang Qian didn’t respond, but Gu Mingxi said mysteriously, “It’s not convenient for her to exercise these few days.”

Pang Qian, “!”

Xie Yi, “…”

Everyone was silent. Pang Qian felt embarrassed to death. She even felt like strangling Gu Mingxi. He also just obediently closed his mouth. In the end, it was Xie Yi who broke the silence. “Oh yeah, Crab, don’t you really like reading Cartoon King? Did you know that during summer break this year, there’s a comic convention in Shanghai. A lot of authors for Cartoon King will be there to sign things. Are you going to go?”

Cartoon King was a monthly magazine of comics. Pang Qian loved it. When she heard that, she got very excited, “I know! The more recent issue had an advertisement for it. But… Shanghai is really far away. My parents definitely won’t take me there.”

Xie Yi gave her a strange look. “Why would your parents have to take you to Shanghai? You can just go on your own.”

Pang Qian thought she heard wrong, “Go on my own?”

“On the train.” Xie spoke lazily, “I know a few friends from comics club and we were going to go together to Shanghai this summer for it. They’re even going to cosplay. They’ll probably perform something too.”

Pang Qian stared foolishly at him. Xie Yi watched as Gu Mingxi’s face darkened and laughed out loud. “Haha! Crab, I’m not inviting you along, but if you did end up going, we can also hang out together. I’m also cosplaying.”

Just then, someone called from the table, “Ping Pong King, your turn!”

With both hands on the railing, Xie Yi jumped down. He turned around to wave to Gu Mingxi and Pang Qian, “I’m going to play!”

He untied his jacket and tossed it to the floor, then picked up a ping pong paddle. When he stood at one end of the table, all eyes were on him.

Pang Qian’s sight followed Xie Yi. After staring distractedly for awhile, she turned to the boy beside her who’d been quiet the whole time. “Gu Mingxi, Gu Mingxi! Do you think my parents will allow me to go to Shanghai over summer break?”