salt by salt

It was already spring when Yang Chen came to class for the first time in the second half of the third semester of high school.

At that time, everyone around me changed out of the winter clothes in their school uniforms, but I was the only one who was still tightly wrapped in my down jacket.Outside the classroom are bright green branches with fresh leaves, casting a misty and hazy green light through the windows.

I thought he wouldn't come.Until his heavy schoolbag was thrown on the table next to me, Yang Chen pulled his chair and sat down with the irritability of just waking up, took out his textbook and threw it on the table.This series of actions made a lot of noise. Some students looked over and lowered their heads after making eye contact with him so indifferently that it was almost fierce, and continued their morning reading as if they didn't see it.Rumors and rumors are still floating in the air, but quietly settled because of Yang Chen's arrival.

Yang Chen let out a breath, glanced at me, and played with the folding pages of the book carelessly with his slender fingers. I heard him say: "Why don't you contact me during the winter vacation?"

The frivolous spring light fell into his narrow and beautiful eyes, and I said softly:

"Because something happened."

"Really?" He said casually, as if he suddenly remembered something, and took out a beautifully wrapped small gift box from his schoolbag, "By the way, this is for you."

I didn't reach out to pick it up.I waited for him to ask me.I didn't contact him this winter vacation, in any way.I hung up on the few calls he made, and I didn't reply to his occasional texts and messages.

Why don't you ask me?Ask me what happened, just one sentence, one sentence after that——

"Don't be embarrassed, just take it for you." He raised his eyebrows and said in a relaxed and cheerful tone, "I brought it for you, see if you like it."

Like before, every time I go too far, I will put something in my drawer, make subtle gestures and bow my head.Yang Chen is indeed generous enough, even such small favors are far more expensive than my pocket money, even giving me useless jewelry.I was not willing to accept this unequal gift, but when I returned the gift to him, he smashed the watch to pieces in front of me.

"I'll take it for you, am I lacking in this?" He said so, "What's more, you..."

These things are nothing to him.The words that were once swallowed were probably "Besides, you have much less than other people", and now I finally understand.

"No need." I wanted to refuse just like that, but I couldn't help explaining in a low voice when I looked at his vivid eyebrows and eyes, "It's really no need, I didn't prepare a gift for you, you can take it back..."

Yang Chen was unexpectedly not angry, he interrupted me with his chin raised: "Come on, don't talk nonsense, take it apart and have a look."

I lowered my eyes to see the scabs on my palms.Not long after the gauze was removed, things were still blurry in the right eye.The gift was tied with a delicate bowknot, and the smooth ribbon hung down naturally. Yang Chen urged impatiently in my ear: "Take it apart, what are you doing so slowly?"

Anger and pain were about to burst out of my chest, and I raised my fingers tremblingly. I didn’t even know whether to punch Yang Chen or untie the ribbon of the gift—fortunately, the head teacher came to inspect the morning reading and rescued him in time. Me, I put my hands on the table and pushed the gift towards him: "Let's read it early, the teacher is here. Can you unwrap it after class?"

"Mum." He curled his lips in dissatisfaction, and put the gift in my drawer, "Remember to open it after class, don't show it to others."

That day Yang Chen didn't stay until the end of morning reading. He leaned on the chair and answered the phone, packed up his things and left again. Before he left, he said to me: "Hey, there are too many people in the class. You can take it home and read it later. Yet?"

I looked at the textbook expressionlessly, not answering his words.He suddenly approached my ear like a prank, and the heat from his breath fell to my neck: "Xu Junyan, I'm going back first, do you hear me?"

I froze all over, I didn't expect him to act so frivolously in front of so many people, I don't know how many unfounded rumors he would bring... I didn't even dare to move, until he smirked and bounced me forehead: "You are really dumbfounded, see you later."

After he walked out of the classroom easily, I slowly lay down on the table and covered my face with a book, but I still couldn't stop the whispers that suddenly erupted.I buried my head to read the messages on my phone, and Lin Ya finally replied me a text message.

"At 08:30 in the evening, I will take you there."

The dimmed screen of the mobile phone reflected the green branches outside the window vaguely. I closed my eyes and pretended that I couldn't hear anything.

It's still so cold in spring.