Chen Zhuo pointed at the somewhat old school building of City No.1 Middle School.
"Huizhou... it’s not as amazing as you think."
Chen Zhuo’s tone was as casual as if he were talking about what he’d had for lunch.
"That university... its campus is just a little bigger, its library is a little taller, and the books inside are just a little thicker than the ones at City No.1 Middle School. That’s all."
He looked at Zhang Qiang.
"I’ve read all the books in the City No.1 Middle School archives. If I stay here, I won’t have anything left to read. So, I’m just finding a new place to keep reading."
Chen Zhuo sighed, his brow furrowing slightly as if he were genuinely troubled by something.
"If I could finish reading all those books from home, I wouldn’t even want to go," he complained.
"Taking the slow train from Zeyang to Huizhou means rattling along for more than ten hours. The whole car smells like instant noodles. Who’d want to put themselves through that?"
When he said this,
Zhang Qiang was stunned.
The way Chen Zhuo described it, the revered and exclusive program for gifted youth at Huake University
was transformed into some boring place he was forced to go just because its books were thicker, a place only reachable by a long, cramped train ride that reeked of instant noodles.
Zhang Qiang blinked. The tension in his mind eased slightly.
"Just to... read?"
Zhang Qiang asked uncertainly.
"What else?" Chen Zhuo retorted.
"What else would I do there?"
Before Zhang Qiang could dwell on it,
Chen Zhuo changed the subject.
He drew his gaze away from the school gate, his eyes landing on Zhang Qiang’s broad shoulders and sturdy frame.
Chen Zhuo’s expression grew serious.
This wasn’t an act. He was about to entrust him with something important.
"Once I leave town, it’ll just be my mom and dad at home."
Chen Zhuo said slowly.
"You know what my dad is like. He’s worked at the factory for half his life."
Chen Zhuo looked at Zhang Qiang.
"Usually, if we need to change the gas canister or carry a fifty-pound bag of rice from the store up to the second floor, I’m here to help lift it."
He paused.
"But next month I’ll be in Huizhou. With hundreds of kilometers of railway between us, if something happens at home, I won’t be able to help at all. I’ll be too far away to be of any use."
Chen Zhuo took a step forward.
He reached out and gave Zhang Qiang’s solid arm a firm squeeze.
Solid muscle.
"You’re sturdy. You’re strong."
Chen Zhuo stared into Zhang Qiang’s eyes, his gaze steady and completely serious.
"City No.1 Middle School is close to my house. The Sunshine Family Courtyard is just two streets away."
Then, with the utmost gravity, Chen Zhuo said the most important part.
"From now on, when you have time on weekends or get out of school early, could you swing by my place and check in?"
"There’s no one else I can ask but you."
Beneath the trees, the wind seemed to fall still.
Zhang Qiang stood frozen, staring at Chen Zhuo.
Boys of twelve or thirteen have an almost fanatical devotion to the concepts of loyalty and responsibility.
The reason he’d felt so dejected and inferior moments ago
was that he thought he’d become worthless to Chen Zhuo, that he could no longer protect him.
But now,
Chen Zhuo had given him a more important task, one that truly required his strength.
He was to guard the home front.
These were tasks Chen Zhuo couldn’t perform while away at university. Only Zhang Qiang, who was staying in Zeyang, could.
A fire reignited in Zhang Qiang’s small, once-dull eyes.
This flame was brighter and more intense than before.
He suddenly felt that the math test he’d scored an eighty-two on and the purple motor in his pocket no longer mattered.
He felt a heavy weight settle on his shoulders.
It was the fulfilling weight of being completely trusted and deeply needed.
"Brother Zhuo..."
Zhang Qiang’s voice was tight. He sniffled hard.
He didn’t thump his chest or make any grand promises.
He simply took the plastic box containing the motor and solemnly tucked it deep into his trouser pocket, keeping it close.
Then he straightened his back and looked at Chen Zhuo.
"Don’t worry."
Zhang Qiang nodded emphatically, the flesh under his chin jiggling.
"Anything Uncle Chen needs, you can leave it to me. If anything needs carrying, I’ll haul it upstairs in one go, no sweat. Just tell me what you need."
He looked at Chen Zhuo, his eyes filled with a stubborn determination.
"You go off and read your books in peace. I’ll take care of things at home."
Seeing Zhang Qiang’s deadly serious expression, as if he were facing a great enemy,
Chen Zhuo finally felt a sense of relief.
He knew the knot of anxiety in Zhang Qiang’s heart had finally loosened.
He pointed a finger at Zhang Qiang’s bulging pocket.
"That purple motor is fast, but the brushes burn out easily. Be careful when you’re modifying it."
"If you run into any parts you can’t figure out, or if something breaks, don’t throw it away. Put it in a box, and I’ll help you fix it when I’m back for winter break."
He looked at Zhang Qiang.
"Also."
"The work in middle school is a lot harder than in elementary school."
"Once school starts, I’ll call you from the landline in my dorm. If there’s any problem you really can’t figure out, or if you fail another test, give me a call."
Chen Zhuo paused before adding one last thing.
"But."
"It’s not free, you know. Helping you tune the car or explain your homework..."
A smile played on Chen Zhuo’s lips.
"...costs two cartons of milk."
"Don’t think you get a free pass just because I’m studying somewhere else. I’ll keep a tab, and you can pay me back when I’m home on break."
Zhang Qiang finally relaxed completely.
He broke into a huge grin, and even the sweat on his face seemed to sparkle with life.
"No problem!"
Zhang Qiang patted his flat wallet.
"Two cartons of milk is nothing! Once I start winning all their allowance money at the school gate with this modified car, I’ll buy you a whole case of Wang Zai milk!"
Zhang Qiang crushed the empty soda can in his hand.
He tossed it into a nearby trash can.
"I’m gonna head home, then?" Zhang Qiang patted the pocket holding the motor. "I want to go install this and try it out."
He turned and was just about to walk away.
"Zhang Qiang."
Chen Zhuo called out from the shade of the trees, stopping him.
Zhang Qiang stopped and turned around.
With his hands in his pockets, Chen Zhuo looked at his sweaty, chubby friend.
"What did I promise you before the competition?"
Zhang Qiang froze for a second.
He looked at Chen Zhuo, his mind racing for a moment before he suddenly remembered.
Chen Zhuo watched him, his voice calm but laced with a smile.
"I told you not to run off after the test. I told you to wait for me."
"We were going to go to the arcade together, so I could teach you Yagami Iori’s infinite combo."
Chen Zhuo casually tossed the empty Coke can he was holding.
CLANG. It landed perfectly in the trash can.
He stepped out from the shade of the plane tree and into the sunlight.
"Let’s go."
Chen Zhuo looked at the still-dazed Zhang Qiang and jutted his chin toward the arcade.
"No time like the present. Let’s go now."
Zhang Qiang’s mouth fell open.
His face scrunched up, and he broke into wild laughter.
"Holy shit! Let’s go, let’s go!"
Zhang Qiang scrambled back in a few quick steps and threw an arm around Chen Zhuo’s shoulders. Any lingering dejection he felt about his best friend leaving for university was completely washed away by the promise to go right now.
The silhouettes of the two boys disappeared down the tree-lined path on that summer afternoon, heading toward the arcade.
The cicadas were still chirping loudly.
But this time, no one was being left behind.

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