Chapter Three: KY

By the afternoon, after Lin Xian left for work, Lin Nian also stepped out and headed to a nearby internet café.

The joys of high school boys are universal, as if connected by a single thread, converging at the ends in internet cafés scattered throughout the bustling, smoke-filled streets and alleys.

The computer’s LCD screen displayed a solid blue, with four white characters saying “Welcome” resting quietly at the center. After about five or six seconds, the gentle startup melody of the Tomato Garden edition played through the headphones, and the screen transitioned to the Windows XP desktop, with blue skies and white clouds above, and a green, low hill below.

Inside the small internet café, Lin Nian sitting before the computer perked up slightly. Boys of his age always felt a spark of energy when hearing the startup sound of a computer. However, a classmate at Shilan High once told Lin Nian that the XP startup music at most internet cafés wasn’t the same as the official version, since almost all cafés used pirated systems. The genuine XP startup tune was said to be a bit more melancholic.

Melancholic? Lin Nian couldn’t understand why the startup music would be sad. Even if it played a dirge, boys and girls eager to play games would still get pumped up, adrenaline surging despite the mournful tune.

Seated in a corner, Lin Nian hung his headphones around his neck and grasped the mouse, skillfully logging into QQ. His username was “Flying to the Blue Sky,” which sounded somewhat cheesy, but compared to some classmates who chose names like “Tomorrow’s Me,” “Forgotten Love,” or “Sunset’s Scar,” and a few wealthy or idle ones who even became members to upload sparkling dynamic avatars, he felt his name paired with a blue sky and white clouds avatar was relatively fresh and light.

After all, there’s a saying that when something is cheesy to the extreme, it becomes trendy. Sometimes Lin Nian even felt his username was quite fashionable in a way that made him feel uniquely clear-headed amid a crowd of intoxicated revelers.

Moreover, this simple username had a story behind it. Whenever classmates noticed he had a female friend named “Azure Sky” in his friend list, they would show surprise and ask if she was his girlfriend. At times, Lin Nian would say nothing, letting people speculate, because hardly anyone guessed that “Azure Sky” was actually his elder sister. Thus, privately, many classmates whispered that Lin Nian had a girlfriend several years older and very beautiful, which drew frequent sideways glances.

“Beep beep beep.”

As soon as he logged into QQ, the class group icon in the lower right corner began flashing. Lin Nian clicked in and saw his classmates chatting merrily. It was clear he had missed a lot; after all, his family didn’t have a computer, and their only electronic entertainment was his sister Lin Xian’s work-use Starks small mobile phone, which didn’t have QQ installed, only the games Snake and Tetris—both of which Lin Nian had restarted countless times.

Scrolling up through the group chat, Lin Nian found the flood of messages began with a classmate, Su Xiaoqiang, saying, “Before school starts, let’s have one last dinner together during winter break.”

Su Xiaoqiang was one of the wealthiest girls in their class, rumored to come from a family involved in the coal mining business. She was beautiful, charming, and affluent, with many admirers in class. Their grade wasn’t plagued by vicious competition, and Su Xiaoqiang's commanding presence was compelling rather than off-putting.

Her words were generally treated as law by most boys in the class. As long as she didn’t go too far, most were happy to follow her lead. If there was such a thing as “influence” in their class group chat, she would rank in the top three, with class monitor Zhao Menghua second, and the first place belonging to someone else.

Once Su Xiaoqiang spoke, the chat erupted like a fish pond suddenly startled awake. The invisible lurkers, the silent watchers, and the eavesdroppers all chimed in, and the topic quickly centered around the dinner.

“What should we eat for dinner?”

“I hear there’s a new café in the high-tech zone with good Western food.”

“For a big group, a café is no good. I think we should have spicy hot pot.”

“Why not a Chinese restaurant? I know one with really flavorful dishes and large portions, perfect for a crowd.”

“Tired of heavy meat during the New Year. How about a vegetarian place to change the palate?”

“Vegetarian food? For a big group, seafood buffet is better.”

“Seafood, no thanks. A relative of mine is in the seafood business and gave us a huge pile of seafood for New Year. I’m so sick of it I’m about to throw up.”

Su Xiaoqiang was organizing a dinner? Watching the lively chat, Lin Nian lightly touched the keyboard but didn’t reply. Many knew his relationship with Su Xiaoqiang was somewhat delicate; he always politely declined such private invitations initiated by her.

“Is Lu Mingfei online?” Su Xiaoqiang suddenly asked.

The group chat fell silent for over ten seconds. Everyone stared at their screens, wondering why Su Xiaoqiang suddenly called out to Lu Mingfei—the class’s ultimate loser. If Su Xiaoqiang was top-tier in class status, Lu Mingfei was at the very bottom, no need to debate.

It wasn’t odd for someone to look for Lu Mingfei; he was just unlucky, not a cursed star. Yet Su Xiaoqiang’s timing was curious, like an emperor discussing a banquet and suddenly asking, “Where is the beggar from the outskirts?”

It was strange, as these two were worlds apart. Su Xiaoqiang’s call stirred all kinds of speculation.

“I’m here, just logged in. What’s going on?” By coincidence, Lu Mingfei was actually online and hurried to answer the summons.

“We’re having a dinner, and haven’t decided what to eat. You’re close with Lin Nian, right? He doesn’t have a computer, so go tell him. I’ll cover the meal for both of you.” True to her nature, Su Xiaoqiang immediately offered to pay.

“Got it. I’ll tell him, but I can’t guarantee he’ll come.” Lu Mingfei eagerly agreed upon hearing free food was promised.

“Someone’s in for a treat,” a teasing voice said, though it didn’t name the lucky one.

“But Lin Nian probably won’t come. He never shows up when others treat.”

“Why doesn’t Su Xiaoqiang go find Lin Nian herself? You should know where he lives.”

“It’s too far. I’m in the east of the city, he’s in the west. Only Lu Mingfei and Liu Miaomiao live closer to him,” Su Xiaoqiang replied.

“I don’t know where he lives...” Liu Miaomiao chimed in.

“No worries, leave it to me. Anyone else wants this job, they’re on their own.” Lu Mingfei showed his usual loyalty when it came to free meals.

Seeing this, Lin Nian felt even less inclined to speak up.

“So, back to the original topic—what about the dinner location?” Su Xiaoqiang steered the conversation back, and the discussion about the venue resumed.

The others wisely didn’t mention the earlier topic again, as everyone understood that this little scene resembled the classic “Ode to the Drunken Pavilion”—Su Xiaoqiang’s intention wasn’t really the dinner, but something between the mountains and forests.

Su Xiaoqiang was the brick thrown out to attract jade; Lu Mingfei was the mossy brick.

As for who the jade was, everyone knew but wisely refrained from making a fuss.

Su Xiaoqiang’s interest in Lin Nian was no secret; many knew about it.

Inviting him to dinner was just a small hint. Su Xiaoqiang had even made more overt gestures. Compared to the reservedness of many high school girls, she was boldly obvious. Anyone with eyes in the class could see it, and even those with just ears could hear the rumors. For example, at the arts festival, Su Xiaoqiang had paid others from different classes to cheer loudly when Lin Nian performed kendo in their class, making the situation clear to all.

But knowing was one thing; whether anything would come of it remained unknown.

High school romance was like beating a drum—one side wielding the drumstick to vent feelings, while the other hid inside, pleased but unsure.

Drumming required patience; if one struck too hard, they might deafen everyone, including themselves. Too soft, and the person inside might not hear. Without breaking through the drum skin, no one knew if the matter could succeed.

Now they were in the second year of high school, soon to enter the third year, and everyone would soon scatter. Even a seasoned drummer like Su Xiaoqiang had grown impatient at the silence inside the drum, especially with many other pretty girls in the school eyeing Lin Nian eagerly, ready to strike the drum themselves. Recently, Su Xiaoqiang had been hitting harder and more frequently, making a tremendous noise.

Perhaps this dinner was another rendition of “High Mountains and Flowing Water,” but to outsiders, it might sound more like the “Feast at Hongmen.” Who knew what kind of scene Su Xiaoqiang might stir up at the dinner?

“If we’re going to have dinner, how about hot pot? It’s getting colder, and I heard a cold front is coming. Hot pot can warm us up,” said Chen Wenwen, president of the literature club.

“That sounds great. Hot pot is lively with lots of people, and the restaurant won’t mind the noise.”

“I have a cold, so hot pot will help get rid of the chill. But don’t blame me if I infect you all!” someone joked.

“Hot pot it is. Seconded.”

Once the literature club president spoke, the group’s support for hot pot became unanimous.

“I know a hot pot place that tastes great, near the school, familiar to everyone and convenient,” group leader Zhao Menghua added, effectively confirming the hot pot plan.

When the first and second most influential members of the class spoke together, the hot pot dinner was basically settled. The chat then moved on to debating whether to have a divided pot or all spicy.

At that moment, an off-topic and discordant voice popped up.

“Does anyone know anything about Kassel Academy?” The question came from Lin Nian. From the start, everyone knew he was an old class clown.