The next day, Peng Zige was back in class, even though he wasn’t looking too well. His bag contained a variety of medications, and when the time came, he would take out a bottle of mineral water and count out a few tablets before gulping them down.
In between classes, he was surrounded by an ever-growing group of students that were on good terms with him. The group seemed to buffet him in waves, and Peng Zige had to repeat several times what his health situation was, whether or not it was serious and if he would be able to recover from it or not.
“Somehow this was more tiring compared to when I was sick ……,” said Peng Zige as he wearily sprawled across his desk. “So tired …”
Li Erqin and Su Zi turned, rather concerned about his state of mind and emotional well-being. By mutual understanding, they decided not to ‘grill’ Peng Zige any further.
Peng Zige had already missed out on a day’s worth of classes, but he was still unable to concentrate in class that day. A few times, he would sprawl on his desk with his eyes closed to recuperate.
The teachers knew of Peng Zige’s situation and didn’t bother him at all.
At midday, the group went out to have their lunch. All except for Peng Zige, who had brought a thermos pot full of porridge that his mum had prepared especially for him.
(T/N : 养胃粥 yangweitang is a type of porridge meant to help with stomach upset and recovery. There are many various recipes and types. This here is just an example. https://www.xiachufang.com/recipe/102290546/ )
Without Peng Zige’s constant chatter, Li Erqin and Su Zi felt as if something was missing. Only Rong Si seemed totally unaffected by his absence.
Before the start of the afternoon self-study class, they gathered for a chat. Su Zi brought along some warm water and placed it on Peng Zige’s desk. “Just hurry and get well.”
Peng Zige lethargically snorted, “It won’t be long before I’ll be bouncing off the walls (like Tigger)!”
(TN : 生龙活虎 shenglonghuohu: literal translation means lively dragon and active tiger which symbolises active and live – thus I’ve used Tigger as an imagery too!!!)
Su Zi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Li Erqin had been distracted all morning. Even when Rong Si was talking to her, it seemed as if she wasn’t listening.
Peng Zige glanced at her a couple of times with concern before asking, “Erqin, did something happen?”
Li Erqin snapped out of her reverie and was about to say something, but then she shook her head instead.
Peng Zige was rather surprised, as Li Erqin wasn’t usually a reticent person and would have said what was on her mind without reservation. He glanced at Rong Si with a questioning look on his face but instead saw that Rong Si was tugging his chin with his left hand while jabbing his pen at a piece of paper with the other hand.
So Li Erqin wasn’t the only one who was distracted and weighed down (with undisclosed issues).
After much mulling, and some to and fro, Peng Zige came up with only one possibility. “Ah Si, did you get into an argument with Erqin?”
The highlighted people turned their attention towards him in unison. Erqin replied, “No.”
“Both of you have such a strange vibe going around.” Peng Zige sprawled yet again on his desk as he continued, “Without me here, you guys can’t seem to get along peacefully!”
(Minodayz : I just love his ego!!! PZG – they do need you! hahahaha)
Su Zi rolled her eyes back as far as they would go.
Peng Zige was jolted by Su Zi’s expression. Touching his nose, he asked, “Was my assumption off the mark?”
Li Erqin sighed and with much reluctance, began to elaborate, “Ruan Nuonuo’s brother, do you remember him? Ruan Mingxian?”
Peng Zige nodded.
Li Erqin stole a glance at Rong Si, saw that his expression was the same as usual and continued, “Last night, he confessed. Again. ”
Confessed?
Again?
The others immediately locked on those essential points. Su Zi was quicker than Peng Zige on the uptake and asked, “He has confessed to you before?”
“Yup.”
Peng Zige hurriedly added on, “What happened then? Did you accept?”
“No.”
Peng Zige was a tad confused. “Then it’s over and done with? So, why are you still thinking so much about it?”
Li Erqin lowered her head in chagrin as she answered, “He wanted to know why I would turn him down.”
Peng Zige asked, “Why?”
Li Erqin repeated in verbatim the answer she had given Ruan Mingxian the night before, “Because I do not like him. ”
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Peng Zige spread his hands, his expression vivid. The fact that he was still unwell was already forgotten as he commented, “That should have answered it!”
“He then asked how I could be certain that I didn’t like him.”
Peng Zige was stunned. What kind of a question* was that?
*(TN: Author use colloquial term ‘Ghost talk’. Literal: what kind of ‘Ghost talk’ was that?! I guess the equivalent would be “Who says that anyway”)
Li Erqin said, “He also asked me if I knew the feeling of liking someone.”
Su Zi frowned and noticed Rong Si putting his pen down.
“So,” Rong Si finally spoke up. “How did you answer him?”
“How can I not know if I like someone or not?” Li Erqin replied as if it was a matter of fact. It was no different from how she had answered Ruan Mingxian.
Rong Si turned his face away without any changes to his expression.
Li Erqin wasn’t able to ascertain the meaning behind this [his reaction]. Furthermore, she didn’t dare ask. Rather, it was Peng Zige that flippantly and naturally asked, “Ah Si, what’s with that expression of yours?”
For a moment, Li Erqin thought that she had spoken aloud what was in her heart, only to realise that the question was posed by Peng Zige.
Rong Si totally ignored him.
He was *not put off and persisted in asking, “Are you looking down on **our Erqin and her ability to know her feelings?”
(TN: *不依不挠 buyibunao either a mix up or a mess of both 不屈不挠 buqubunuo & 不依不饶 buyiburao. Not sure if it was intentional or a mix of terms but 不屈不挠 buqubunuo means unyielding and not succumbing to situation, and 不依不饶 buyiburao means non compliance and unyielding. Both are close in meaning.
** used to describe ours – 我家二勤 wojia Erqin = Our Erqin. The concept of 我家 wojia, my family, used previously when Erqin spoke of her pet lizard = 我家福 wo jia fu to denote her family pet called Fu.)
Li Erqin’s expression froze. Peng Zige must have been so sick that his thoughts were in a jumble, and he had uttered his frank remarks without any restraint..
“Is your stomach no longer hurting?” Rong Si reminded.
“It hurts ….” When Peng Zige had heard the word ‘stomach’, suddenly he felt as if he was possessed and lost his energy. “I don’t ever want to be sick again.”