A CERTAIN SOMEONE ( THE ON1Y ONE )

Chapter 069 - Impulse

Happy Birthday, Wang-zai.

Sheng Wang honestly thought the so-called “a few shops” did mean a handful, but as it turned out, it was an entire street when they saw it for themselves at the gate at the campus behind the hill.

The terrain around the school wasn’t smooth at all; the street winded down along the gentle slope of the hill, surrounding the school a little by half. Its end was obscured behind the wall at the side of the hill, nigh impossible to see the end of the street with a single look.
This was the only place anywhere near prosperous nearby, it was also the only place people in this school could go to. Therefore as evening approached, not only did this place not become unfrequented, it was bustling with people instead.

Still, the regular students here still had night self-study; even if they came out, they had time for only a dinner. Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian picked an unfortunate timing, and happened to arrive at peak hour. All the eateries were filled to the brim.

Sheng Wang checked all around before he couldn’t stand it anymore. “How bad must the canteen food be that everyone’s this repressed?”
The school opened up a separate cafeteria window for them. Regular students used school cards, they used dining vouchers. The meals from that window were so-so, its merit was that there was no need to queue. Yesterday, they were still mumbling on about how the normal window looked like they had a greater variety of food, likely tasting better too. Now, it seemed that there wasn't that much difference after all, so the students seized the chance to gorge on good food by the school gate the moment they could.

Jiang Tian took his phone out and checked the time. School ended at 5.40pm, the students have just entered the shop. By the time they were done and seats were cleared out, it would be 6.30pm at the very least.
He asked Sheng Wang, “Any place you want to go?”

This place consisted of only a single street. There were only so many gimmicks to be found here; if Sheng Wang came by himself, he wouldn’t be interested in any store at all. However, things were absolutely different with Jiang Tian by his side.
His eyes swept before and behind him, and said, “I want to go everywhere.”
Jiang Tian: “......”
Sheng Wang said, “How now?”
“Pick one.”
“I’m indecisive, can’t pick one.”
“......”

Mischief was clearly written in Sheng Wang’s eyes. “Aren’t you my Ge? You have the duty to settle on a direction.”
Jiang Tian’s brows were knitted as he looked at him, speechless. A while later he nodded and stuck his hand out. He deadpanned, “Pass me the knife, I’ll help to divide you up. How many places do you want to go?”
Sheng Wang: “......the hell, who are you trying to scare. Can you bear to?”
He merely intended to let it be a casual continuation of the conversation. No matter if they were brothers or friends, lines like these were nothing out of the ordinary. Yet, when it was spoken to the special someone, it took on an entirely different meaning.

Jiang Tian paused.
They were still traversing up that gentle slope, shoulders to shoulders. Their footsteps were leisurely, as though they were having a pleasant stroll. Jiang Tian’s palm was still spreaded open, his slender digits slightly crooked.

That was where Sheng Wang’s peripheral view landed on. He saw Jiang Tian’s fingers curl, and then went back into the pockets of his long pants. For a few seconds, Jiang Tian did not make a second sound; like he was mulling over the issue of whether he could bear to, like he was also digesting those few traces of the inexplicable something between them.
He spoke after a moment. “Then...forget about it.”
Yet another while later, Sheng Wang then softly replied with an “oh”.
As such, the wind slipped through them, every gust taking twists and turns.

The streetlights at the side gradually lit up one by one. The two suddenly became silent. Sheng Wang walked a few steps, and played natural as he looked around at the various shops. Amongst the numerous fancy and overly accessorised signs, a store stood out with its truly unique style.