Under Clear Skies Chapter 25: I’ll Wait for You

Chapter 25: I’ll Wait for You

Translated by Fefe of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Addis

An Yun sounded hesitant. “Just… Yeah, he’s so poor, but I heard from Xiaoqin that he’s been popular with the ladies since undergrad.”

“What does that have to do with me?” Tang Heng said.

“Are you for real?” An Yun sighed. “You think I can’t tell? It’s like you fucking lost your mind these past two days.”

“…”

“And Xiaoqin told he that he’s super good to his girlfriend. He’s so poor and works himself to death every day to make money, but I heard he gives all his money to his girlfriend.”

“Is Tian Xiaoqin obsessed with him? Watching him 24/7?” Tang Heng scoffed. “He can give the money to whoever he likes. Has nothing to do with me.”

An Yun was silent for a few seconds. Then, “Anyway, I gave you the warning. Don’t get too into it.”

“Alright,” Tang Heng replied. “Go eat your crayfish.”

Then he hung up, he just so happened to pass by the university’s track field. It was summer break, so there were only a few people strolling around. The shadows under the trees were dark. Tang Heng sat under a tree and watched the passersby.  

Li Yuechi probably wouldn’t have the time or mood to take walks or space out. What was he doing right now? It was so late, so he probably wasn’t still working—maybe he was cuddling with his girlfriend?

Alright, he had to admit that Li Yuechi was quite likeable. No matter how his personality was like, his face was enough.

But this didn’t mean anything either.

Tang Heng got up and slowly made his way home.

 

At midnight, it started raining in Wuhan again. The rain was extremely serene this time, like a buddha’s hand brushing past with a flower. Tang Heng woke up once when the sky outside the window was still dark—it was 3:21 AM.

He fell back asleep. When he woke up again, it was already broad daylight.

The sun shone fully through the French window. It was blindingly bright. Tang Heng froze for two seconds before grabbing his phone—it was already 9:33 AM.

Which meant that he’d slept past their set time.

However, there was only one unread text on his phone. It’d been sent by Jiang Ya at 6 AM, asking if he wanted to go to 40 tonight—a new livehouse by the river. What did this mean? It meant that his phone was working properly. It hadn’t gotten waterlogged and he’d paid his phone bills.

It meant that he was late, but Li Yuechi hadn’t messaged him.

Tang Heng entered the alarm page and discovered that the 8:00 alarm had indeed gone off but didn’t wake him up. Fucking crazy. He didn’t know how he could sleep like the dead, like his body had automatically avoided Li Yuechi.

Tang Heng quickly washed up and got dressed, grabbed his wallet and phone, and rushed out the door. His derailleur was parked outside the building. Tang Heng crossed his long leg over, grabbed the handlebar with one hand, and called An Yun with his other. It was a long slope and the bike sped faster and faster. Tang Heng continued to hold it with one hand. Finally, An Yun picked up the phone.

“Send me Tian Xiaoqin’s number,” Tang Heng said.

“Why?”

“I’m looking for them.”

“Them?” An Yun paused, but fortunately didn’t ask further. “Wait a sec, I’ll send it to you.”

 

Twenty minutes later, the bike was stopped by the university’s South Gate. Tang Heng held up his phone, saying, “Sorry, I got up late.”

“It’s alright, Shidi.” Tian Xiaoqin’s voice was gentle and didn’t seem unhappy at all. “If you’re busy, you can go do your own thing. We’re okay on our own.”

“I’m fine. Where are you?”

“We’re by the South Lake…” Tian Xiaoqin giggled. “Oh, let Yuechi tell you.”

Tang Heng didn’t answer. The person at the other end had changed.

“Come to the North Gate of Huazhong Agricultural University.” Li Yuechi’s voice was flat. “We’ll wait for you there in 20 minutes.”

“Got it,” Tang Heng said.

“You really got it?” Li Yuechi asked in response.

“…Yes.”

The other hung up.

Tang Heng listened to the beep for a long while before he remembered that when Li Yuechi had said last night to meet up at 8:30, he’d also answered, Got it.

 

Twenty-seven minutes later, the taxi stopped at the South Gate of the Agricultural Uni. Wuhan’s traffic was infamous—the jams wouldn’t budge even at 10 in the morning. When Tang Heng urged the taxi driver, the hot-tempered Wuhan driver retorted in heavy dialect, “Whad’yu want? If you in a hurry, then get up early!”

Tang Heng alighted and saw from afar Li Yuechi and Tian Xiaoqin standing in the shade. Tian Xiaoqin held a sun umbrella, while Li Yuechi carried a black backpack. There was another white one in his hands.

Tang Heng went over with his hands in his pockets. “Sorry, I overslept.”

“It’s okay. Are you sleep deprived?” Tian Xiaoqin asked out of concern.

“No, I just overslept.”   

“Oh,” Tian Xiaoqin giggled.

Meanwhile, Li Yuechi stood on the side without saying a word. His face was expressionless as well. It was like Tang Heng had nothing to do with him. Tian Xiaoqin said, “Shidi, then let’s continue our journey.”   

“Okay,” Tang Heng said.

Tian Xiaoqin turned around and reached a hand out to Li Yuechi. “I can carry it myself.”

Li Yuechi shook his head. “It’s fine.”   

Tian Xiaoqin smiled again, her eyes curving. “Alright then,” she said, seeming unable to change his mind.

Li Yuechi walked in the front, while Tian Xiaoqin and Tang Heng were in one row. After a few steps, Tang Heng asked, “Did you guys wait for a long time this morning?”

“It was fine,” Tian Xiaoqin said. “Just 15 minutes, not too long.”   

“Why didn’t you call me?”

“Huh? We don’t have your number.”

“…”

Tang Heng stopped walking and called out, “Li Yuechi.”

Li Yuechi’s tone was ever so flat. “I didn’t want to disturb your sleep.”

“You didn’t want to disturb my sleep?”

“After all, I didn’t know if you’re coming or not.”

“Why would I set a time with you if I’m not coming?!”

“But you see,” Li Yuechi suddenly laughed, “you indeed did not come this morning.”

Tang Heng deflated like a balloon that got pricked by a thorn.

Li Yuechi continued, “Actually, it’s fine if you don’t come. Xiaoqin and I are enough. We’ll write your name down in the end, so you can go work on your own things.” His expression was actually serious, as if he was sincerely saying these things. Tian Xiaoqin shot him a glance and he responded with a comforting smile, as if saying, It’s okay, don’t be scared.

For a moment, Tang Heng actually felt that he made sense. Why was he eagerly getting involved? The weather was hot and humid and the sun was baking. Why didn’t he sit in an air-conditioned room, playing guitar or reading a book, or even memorizing English vocab? No matter if he came or not, they’d include his name in the credits anyway.

“Then I’ll go back now,” Tang Heng said.

“Hey, Shidi!” Tian Xiaoqin hurriedly called. “We still—”

He must’ve hit his head against a wall to want to be looking for torture. Tang Heng ignored Tian Xiaoqin and strode forward, hands in his pockets. He just wanted to leave this damn place and find a room with air conditioning. It was too hot.

There were no footsteps behind him. Tang Heng gradually slowed down, walking while pondering where he should go next. Maybe he should go home and ask Dr. Wang to give him a quick treatment. Then he could go to the library. There were two books due soon… Until he heard rapid incoming footsteps. Someone grabbed his shoulder but quickly let go again.

Li Yuechi’s breathing was a bit fast. He stared at Tang Heng with helpless frustration. “You’re leaving just like this?”

Tang Heng neither looked at him nor replied.

“I waited half an hour for you,” Li Yuechi muttered. “It was too hot.”

“Wasn’t it 15 minutes?”

“I arrived 15 minutes early.”

“…”

“Sorry for my attitude just then.”

“Whatever.” Tang Heng turned his face.   

“…”

Tang Heng thought this was over, but Li Yuechi suddenly got close and grabbed his right wrist. Tang Heng frowned. “What?”

Li Yuechi grasped his wrist and pulled his right hand out of his pocket. There was a patch of long and short cuts on his right palm—bright red scratches that had stopped bleeding.       

Li Yuechi looked down for a few seconds. “What happened?”

“Fell from my bike.” Holding the handlebar with one hand was indeed dangerous.

“Don’t be so much in a hurry next time.” Li Yuechi sighed, as if he had no other choice. “I’ll wait for you, alright?”