October 9, 1998, Friday. Guan Xuchen and Gao Xinglang were walking to school. Guan Xuchen smiled and asked, "Lang, have you decided on your elective subject for the college entrance exams? I guess you're picking Physics, right?"
"Yep, you're so smart, Soupy." Gao Xinglang replied smilingly, "But besides Physics, I want to take History too."
"Really? Then we can have History classes together." Guan Xuchen lit up, and then asked in confusion, "Wait, Lang, you want to major in Physics, don't you? Why choose History?"
"I do want to go to the Physics Department," Gao Xinglang sighed softly. "But my mom saw that History opens up foreign trade majors, and my dad could help with job connections in future. "
He paused for a moment and then joked, "Plus, I actually love historical novels like Romance of the Three Kingdoms, so it's good to have one more choice. And getting to take History classes with you will be a bonus, Soupy."
"Mhm!" Guan Xuchen nodded brightly, then sighed. "Too bad I'm not good at Physics, or else I could pick Physics too and we could have Physics classes together."
Gao Xinglang laughed, then asked, "Foreign language majors require History as the elective subject. I understand that. But why do you take Politics too?"
"Ugh, similar to your situation," Guan Xuchen sighed. "My mom says even foreign cats and dogs can speak English. So she made me add Politics for more choices."
"But Chinese cats and dogs don't speak English—they'd need translators to talk to foreign pets!" Gao Xinglang burst into laughter, but his smile faded quickly. "Guess following our own path isn't easy, huh?"
As they neared the school gate, Guan Xuchen heard giggling behind them. He turned to see two girls—from either Senior One or Two—snickering at him and Gao Xinglang. Puzzled, he whispered, "Lang, do you know those girls? Why are they snickering at us?"
Gao Xinglang glanced at the girls, then winked at Guan Xuchen. "Must be because we're too handsome."
"No, look—your collar's turned up." Guan Xuchen noticed one of Gao Xinglang's collars flipped up, so he stopped him and carefully straightened it.
The girls passed by, laughing even harder.
Guan Xuchen felt confused and annoyed, but walked on with Gao Xinglang anyway.
After a few steps, they heard the two girls whispering ahead.
Girl A: "Are those two the famous 'Mr. and Mrs. Lang' of our school?
Girl B: "Yep. Brother Ao Feifan says they're super lovey-dovey."
Girl A: "Gao Xinglang is tall and handsome, and he used to be on the basketball team—he doesn't look gay."
Girl B (teasingly): "Maybe he's an atypical gay then!"
Both girls then burst into laughter.
Guan Xuchen finally understood the snickering. Feeling ashamed, he dropped his head and slowed down, hoping the two girls would move ahead.
But Gao Xinglang stormed up, blocking the girls and said angrily, "Who are you calling gay? What class are you in? Watch your mouth!"
Girl A paled, but Girl B was brave enough to ask back, "W-What do you want? Are you going to hit us?"
"You!" Gao Xinglang clenched his fists, red-faced with fury, speechless.
Girl B shot him a glare, then dragged Girl A toward the gate.
Gao Xinglang still wanted to chase up and argue with them, but Guan Xuchen quickly grabbed his arm, pleading, "Lang, forget it..."
His voice trembled with guilt, "It's all my fault—you shouldn't have been mocked because of me..."
YOU ARE READING
Love Me in Another Universe
General FictionIt was such a long time ago that you don't even remember why you fell for that person in the first place. You just remember stubbornly that you were once deeply in love with someone with that name... It's a story about the bond between two Chinese b...
