Chapter 9: Jasmine in Memory (1/2)
Translator: Ruriko
At first, Wenxu Jiang and Zhishu He were ordinary classmates. Jiang was admitted to their high school as a student skilled in art. He excelled at sport but disliked studying. He always slept or drew pictures in class. In contrast with him, Zhishu He was a straight-A student who was good-looking and very popular among their classmates and teachers. Although he was not voluble and gregarious, he was well received because of his gentle smile which could melt people's hearts.
Afterwards, they became desk-mates by accident. The first thing Wenxu Jiang said to Zhishu He was ”You smell good.”
Zhishu He's grandfather had got a yard full of the jasmines. In the florescence, their house was full of the fragrance of jasmine flowers and Zhishu was wearing the same fragrance.
The next day, Zhishu He picked some jasmine flowers and gave them to Wenxu Jiang. Jiang gave him a big smile, rubbed his head and said, ”Thank you.”
Wenxu Jiang was thoughtful. He knew that Zhishu hated to be disturbed in study, so he quietly slept or drew in class, and after class, he went to play basketball with a group of boys. Many girls in their class liked Jiang and often talked about him at break.
As a student, Wenxu Jiang was also afraid of being scolded by their class teacher. So sometimes he would come to school early and only asked Zhishu He for the exercise book as bold as brass, ”Little Shu, can I copy your homework? I haven't finished it. Help me, please.” Zhishu He always compromised with Jiang.
They got along with each other as normal desk-mates. One day when Zhishu came upstairs, he saw Wenxu Jiang come down the stairs in a daze. Suddenly, Jiang missed his footing and fell to the ground, scraping his knee, which terrified Zhishu. He rushed to Jiang and helped him up.
Wenxu Jiang put his chin on Zhishu's shoulder, gasping with pain. ”You smell nice. Just now you caught my eye, so I missed my footing,” he whispered in Zhishu's ear.
Zhishu He was stunned by these words.
After that day, they felt much closer to each other. Wenxu Jiang often took Zhishu He to watch his basketball games and had him keep his coat and water bottle. The adorers of Jiang were upset but could do nothing since Jiang only allowed He to touch his belongings. Every time Zhishu He was present, Jiang put up a good performance as if he had taken stimulants.
Then one day, Zhishu He accidentally found that Wenxu Jiang, who hated reading most, was reading a foreign poetry anthology. He held the book and frowned in bewilderment, trying hard to understand the meaning of the poetry.