A Thousand Thoughts

The thing that made a group of students complain was that they had to do an internship and also write an internship report.

 

He Zhong stood in front of the computer room, grumbling as he put on shoe covers over his shoes: “I haven’t used this thing since third grade.”

 

Since they didn’t bring their laptops, they could only come to the computer room twice a week to write their reports. Tang Cuo opened WORD and started working on the first day’s report. He spent half an hour typing, inserting pictures, and writing about his learning experience before finally finishing his report. At this time, He Zhong poked him and said, “I’m done.”

 

Tang Cuo widened his eyes and asked, “You finished already?”

 

He looked at his own 500 words and leaned over to look at He Zhong’s with disbelief. After reading it, he started to laugh while holding his stomach.

 

On the first day, I played four rounds of Werewolf. I was the Witch once, the Villager twice, and the Werewolf once. I won two games and lost two games, but I didn’t get to be the Seer. I’ll keep trying.

 

On the second day, I played three rounds of Werewolf and was the Werewolf all three times! I completely lost their trust! I won two games and lost one, but I still didn’t get to be the Seer!

 

On the third day, I played four rounds of Werewolf. Nothing else matters because I finally got to be the seer! But they thought I was the Werewolf and voted me off! 

 

…

 

Looking at Tang Cuo laughing so hard that he couldn’t catch his breath, He Zhong patted his little round head and said, “Cuo Cuo, I know you have a low sense of humor, but I didn’t expect it to be this low…”

 

After a while, when Tang Cuo finally stopped laughing, he took out his phone and took a picture of He Zhong’s “internship report,” which was neatly written. He said that such a classic masterpiece must be commemorated. He Zhong sat with his legs crossed, letting him take the picture, and praised himself endlessly.

 

However, He Zhong never expected that Tang Cuo would give the report to Tang Xu on his behalf.

 

That evening, He Zhong was watching a game with great interest when his phone suddenly vibrated. He took it out, and his face immediately changed. When Tang Cuo was eliminated from the game, He Zhong immediately dragged him outside, and Tang Cuo asked in confusion, “What’s going on?”

 

He Zhong held up his phone and almost stuck it in Tang Cuo’s face.

 

“Just date if you want to date; why do you have to report on others!”

 

Tang Cuo dodged back and moved the phone away to see what was on the screen. He recognised the profile picture immediately; it was the face of the little white cat he took a photo of for Tang Xu’s internship report.

 

—”Werewolf game record is too bad; internship report is not up to standard; rewrite.”

 

Tang Cuo started laughing again, which made He Zhong angry, and he pinched his neck and asked him to clear his name. The two of them made a fuss at the door for a while and were seen by Zhao Feifei, who came back from the bathroom. Zhao Feifei looked at them with a knowing look and stood there, taking pictures from all angles, with a mischievous look.

 

Feeling sorry for the silly child Zhao Feifei, He Zhong took a couple of steps forward and pulled him into his arms, saying, “Come on, big brother will take you out to play.” He suppressed the person in his arms and walked towards the house, not forgetting to turn back and make a gesture to Tang Cuo.

 

Tang Cuo smiled and bent his eyes a few more times before taking out his phone and quietly calling Tang Xu at the end of the hallway.

 

After a week of internship, at the strong request of everyone, Tang Xu arranged for them to have a half-day holiday, which, combined with the evening, was equivalent to a whole day off for people who usually got up at ten or eleven when they had nothing to do. With a total of more than ten people, they headed off to Central Street in mighty fashion.

 

A girl shouted that she wanted to eat popsicles, and Tang Cuo heard it. He said that there was an authentic Mader popsicle shop just one intersection ahead. The one facing the front sells for five yuan with a lot of milk, while the one from the side is three yuan with less milk, but the five-yuan one is tastier.

 

One girl turned around and asked in surprise, “Cuo Shen1In Chinese culture, calling someone “shen” (神) as a nickname or a term of endearment usually means that the person is seen as cool, awesome, or impressive. It can also be used to describe someone who has a special talent or ability. If classmates are calling each other “shen,” it is likely that they are complimenting each other’s skills, personality, or appearance in a positive way., you know so much? I remember you’re from Beijing, right?”

 

Tang Cuo felt guilty when he was asked like that, especially since Tang Xu was walking right beside him, just one person away. His tongue even began to tremble.

 

“I, I’ve been here before…”

 

“Have you played here before?”

 

Tang Cuo nodded and rubbed his nose. He pretended to look at the nearby building, turned his head, and unexpectedly met Tang Xu’s gaze. Tang Xu didn’t dodge or hide, and he even had a smile on his lips. Tang Cuo turned his head back, thinking to himself that older people are different; their mental toughness is really good.

 

When they arrived at the square, Tang Cuo saw many children playing with those things that could produce a lot of bubbles. The local vendors here were very sharp, and he had only glanced at them for a moment when a vendor had already approached him.

 

“Classmate, do you want to play with one? It’s ten yuan each.”

 

Tang Cuo hurriedly waved his hand and said he didn’t want it. But the vendor persisted, as if he had seen through Tang Cuo’s thoughts: “This one is really fun; it’s the latest model, and it’s even automatic. Look over there; don’t you see a bunch of older men playing with them?”

 

Tang Cuo couldn’t shake off the vendor’s smooth tongue and even attracted two girls from his class who eagerly gathered around to pick out toys. The vendor enthusiastically explained the functions of each toy to them. Tang Cuo didn’t leave or step forward; he just watched.

 

As they were looking, they suddenly heard a voice say, “Pick one each, you’re all about to graduate, and as your teacher, I haven’t given you anything, so I’ll give you this. May you always keep your childlike innocence.”

 

It wasn’t an expensive item, and the two girls were not hesitant. They exclaimed, “Thank you, Teacher Tang,” and each picked out a toy.

 

Tang Xu said again, “Pick a few more for the boys to play with.”

 

Tang Cuo watched as the three of them picked styles and colors, feeling a little itchy inside but not wanting to join in the fun again, so he simply walked towards the riverbank. He had only taken a few steps when he heard footsteps behind him. Tang Cuo turned around and saw Tang Xu catching up with a smile on his face.

 

He stopped and pulled out a bubble blower from behind, which was pink and princessy.

 

“Come on, my hardworking class representative, I picked the best one for you.”

 

The weather wasn’t particularly good that day, and they had only stood by the Songhua River for a while when fine rain started to fall from the sky. There was a temporary stall selling umbrellas outside a shopping mall near the square, and Tang Xu quickly bought a few to give to everyone.

 

By May, the bank of the Songhua River was still uniquely cold when the sun was about to set, and everyone took a screenshot of the real-time temperature and posted it on their social media, marvelling at the huge temperature difference between here and the capital. Worried that they would catch a cold, Tang Xu urged everyone to go back, but a group of students insisted on “watching the tide” with their umbrellas, waiting for the lights to come on, and enjoying the night view of the riverside and Central Street before going back. After saying that, everyone formed groups of two or three and sat down on the bottom two steps.

 

Seeing this seemingly rooted-in-the-Songhua-River posture, Tang Xu scanned around with some headache, raised his hand, and gestured around, saying, “Do you see anyone around us? Even the boat operators have closed up and gone home. The whole Songhua River, there are only us who are not afraid of the cold.”

 

A few classmates laughed and said, “We’re young and strong!”

 

This sounded familiar to Tang Xu, who glanced at Tang Cuo on the edge and sighed silently before walking over.

 

When He Zhong saw him coming, he immediately started to provide cover. Originally, Tang Cuo and He Zhong shared an umbrella. He Zhong looked around and saw Zhao Feifei dancing and talking with someone, with half of her body outside the umbrella. He Zhong immediately shouted, “Fei Dao! Come under brother’s wide umbrella!”

 

Zhao Feifei was pulled over by He Zhong for no apparent reason. Glancing over, he saw Tang Cuo standing woodenly under Tang Xu’s umbrella. He was startled for a moment and exclaimed, “Hey, why did you separate from Cuo Cuo? Aren’t you two conjoined twins?”

 

Tang Xu heard the sound and looked over. In fact, there was no other meaning, but He Zhong always adhered to the principle of not adding emotional trouble to others, especially for his teacher and best friend. He quickly twisted Zhao Feifei’s belly with his arm and said, “Don’t talk nonsense.”

 

Tang Xu found it interesting and repeated in a thought-provoking tone, “Conjoined twins…”

 

As graduation was approaching, Zhao Feifei was feeling carefree and excited. He stretched his neck and shouted at Tang Xu in excitement, “Hey, Teacher Tang, you know what, They even sleep in the same bed in the dorm! Tell me, aren’t they abnormal… Hey, why are you kicking me?”

 

He Zhong felt that his roommate of four years was pushing him into a pit. He smiled sinisterly, pulled Feifei to sit on the steps, and gritted his teeth at the person in front of him, “Shut up.”

 

Tang Xu lowered his head slightly and looked at Tang Cuo, who was enjoying the view of the river. After watching for a while, he murmured softly, ” They sleep in the same bed?”

 

At this moment, Tang Cuo was actually secretly delighted. He swayed his body and pursed his lips, saying, “Anyway… eight out of ten days, I guess.”

 

With one hand holding the umbrella handle, the other hand really wanted to touch Tang Cuo’s eyes, which were full of cunning, or hold his hand. It wasn’t the first time he had such thoughts, but this time, the cold Jiang wind made Tang Xu’s heart surge even more.

 

He gently pushed Tang Cuo, and the two of them moved a few steps to the other side, keeping a safe distance from He Zhong and Zhao Feifei. Tang Xu put his free hand in his pocket and looked at the distant river. “Actually, I always feel that places with water are especially suitable for falling in love.”

 

As their classmates had all sat down in front of them, Tang Cuo let his guard down a little. He turned his head and asked in a low voice, “Why is that?”

 

Tang Xu smiled and shook his head while looking at him. “I don’t know, maybe it’s because water can be quite invigorating?”

 

“How can water be invigorating? Isn’t it alcohol that’s invigorating?” Tang Cuo asked.

 

Tang Xu continued to smile. He glanced around and then reached out to pat his head. “Anyway, I’ve always felt that after dinner, it’s quite comforting to be able to take a walk by the river, lake, or seaside with someone you like.”

 

Tang Cuo listened with fascination, staring motionlessly at Tang Xu’s smiling profile. The lights came on over the river, and a series of yellow lights suddenly outlined the long contours of the railway bridge.

 

Tang Xu looked up and suddenly pointed in the distance, shouting, “Look, classmates, the lights are on!”

 

Everyone, whether they had noticed or not, followed Tang Xu’s direction and looked across the river.

 

Tang Cuo also raised his head to search for the splendid light scene, squinting his eyes and pursing his lips into a pretty and gentle curve. But as soon as his eyes met the lights, he found himself captured by a hand on his chin. His gaze shifted direction, and the umbrella above his head accidentally blocked the view of the person behind him.

 

Once again, Tang Cuo forgot to close his eyes. He stared at the clear and distinct outline of the person in front of him, and in his mind, a huge firework exploded, far more brilliant than the night view of the river.

 

He couldn’t believe that Tang Xu had just kissed him so openly and unobstructed by the riverside, with his students and classmates around.

 

It was just a faint touch, very brief. Before Tang Cuo could react, Tang Xu had calmly straightened up. The scene just now replayed in Tang Cuo’s mind, and it frightened him so much that his limbs went weak. After he recovered, he quickly looked up to see if anyone had noticed.

 

While others were still taking pictures of the river view with their phones, only He Zhong was sitting on the ground with his head up, staring straight at the two of them. His expression was beyond stunned.

 

Tang Xu also noticed He Zhong and raised an eyebrow at him, asking, “Why aren’t you looking at the lights?”

 

He Zhong was stunned for two seconds, then he rubbed his forehead hard with his hand, “Teacher Tang, do I look bright enough to you?”

 

Tang Xu chuckled twice, “You’re okay.”

 

Feeling his gaze return to them, Tang Cuo blushed and lowered his head, rubbing the edge of the steps with his foot.

 

Tang Xu sighed and lightly touched Tang Cuo’s arm with his own. Only then did Tang Cuo raise his head again and silently look at him.

 

Tang Xu smirked and asked, “Do you like it?”

 

“What?” Tang Cuo was confused.

 

This time, Tang Xu didn’t speak but silently conveyed two words to him: “secret affair.

 

After being caught off guard by Tang Xu’s words, Tang Cuo’s face heated up again. He coughed twice and made a face at Tang Xu, “Respect your elders.”

 

After saying that, he remained silent for a few seconds, inserted his hands into his pockets, stood on his tiptoes, and looked around aimlessly before saying, “But I really like it.”

 

With a rigorous academic spirit, Tang Xu asked, “Do you like the thrill of excitement or the disrespect for elders?”

 

Tang Cuo raised his face slightly, closed one eye, and looked at the person next to him. “I like the thrill and excitement brought by disrespecting elders.”

 

This was his first experiment. Closing the eye furthest away from Tang Xu and standing next to him, when the distance was close enough, he could only see his face. His field of view was narrowed, but for me, as long as it could fit you, it was large enough.

 

1In Chinese culture, calling someone “shen” (神) as a nickname or a term of endearment usually means that the person is seen as cool, awesome, or impressive. It can also be used to describe someone who has a special talent or ability. If classmates are calling each other “shen,” it is likely that they are complimenting each other’s skills, personality, or appearance in a positive way.