After Jiang Tian walked out of the cafeteria and left everyone puzzled, Shi Yu and Tianyang's playful banter quickly picked up where it left off, bringing everyone back to a lively conversation. The laughter and chatter filled the cafeteria, as if nothing had happened at all.
Sheng Wang, who had just returned from throwing away the used tissue, couldn't help but furrow his brows as he sat back down. He was about to sit on his own when Tianyang grabbed his arm and pulled him down into his chair.
"Why are you still standing there, Sheng-ge?" Tianyang teased, nudging him playfully. "Finish your food. Wait! Tian-ge left his phone?" Tianyang exclaimed, pointing at the mobile phone that lay on the table beside Jiang Tian's plate, which still had a few bits of food left.
Sheng Wang glanced down at the phone, feeling something he couldn't quite name. As his hand moved instinctively to pick it up, a slight pout formed on his lips as he turned the phone over in his hands, idly examining it.
"Sheng-ge, you keep it and give it back to Tian-ge when he comes back," Gao Tianyang urged him.
For a moment, Sheng Wang considered refusing and passing the phone to Tianyang instead. But then he hesitated, realizing it would seem odd to refuse. They might even question why he couldn't just hand it back to Jiang Tian himself.
After all, they were technically step brothers, though their recent tension might say otherwise.
Besides, it was just a phone.
No big deal, right?
With a small sigh, he reluctantly slipped the phone into his right pocket, murmuring, "Alright, I'll give it to him later."
The laughter and lively chatter continued as everyone finished their food. Sheng Wang, who had lost his appetite, simply sat back and observed the group, occasionally chuckling at their jokes. His gaze would wander now and then, as if unconsciously searching for the familiar figure who had left the cafeteria.
Ten minutes had passed since Jiang Tian excused himself, and he still hadn't returned. Shi Yu checked his watch, his eyes widening slightly. "Hey! We only have eight minutes left before the break ends! We'd better head back to our classrooms before we're late," he said with a slight hint of panic in his voice.
Instantly, everyone began scrambling, quickly downing the rest of their drinks and gathering their belongings. Tianyang and Song Sirui made sure to clean up the table, disposing of any trash in the nearby bins.
After every last piece of trash was disposed of, Little Pepper nudged the group along, urging them to run back to their respective classrooms before the teachers arrived.
Everyone sprinted through the hallway, their laughter echoing off the walls as they ran through the crowded corridors. Sheng Wang couldn't help but laugh along, feeling a sense of lightheartedness he hadn't experienced in the past days.
When they finally reached Class B, Sheng Wang, Shi Yu, and Shi Yu's girlfriend dashed to their seats just as their English teacher began walking into the room. They made it just in time, narrowly avoiding a reprimand. Sheng Wang glanced at the clock and sighed in relief, his heart still pounding from running.
Meanwhile, Tianyang and the others, whose classroom is on the higher floor, had bolted up the stairs, determined to make it to class on time.
Sheng Wang managed to settle into his seat.
Just as he was catching his breath, a sudden vibration in his right pocket made him jolt slightly. He reached for his pocket and pulled out the phone, only to realize that it was Jiang Tian's phone that was buzzing in his hand. Blinking, he stared down at the unfamiliar device for a moment, feeling a mixture of surprise and awkwardness. It only dawned on him now that he had forgotten to pass the phone to Tianyang earlier. He could have easily avoided this situation by handing it over, but it was too late now.
Letting out a quiet sigh, Sheng Wang turned off the phone's screen and slipped it back into his pocket, deciding to deal with it later.
As he reached for his pen and turned his attention back to the teacher's lecture, he couldn't quite shake the odd feeling of having Jiang Tian's phone in his possession.
Meanwhile, on a higher floor in the building, Jiang Tian was finally making his way back toward the classrooms, his hands casually tucked into his pockets. He had lost track of time while he was in the restroom, spending far longer than he intended.
Earlier, he had locked himself inside the restroom, trying to steady his breathing and regain his composure. The intense feelings that had surged up in him had taken him by surprise, and he needed a few moments to cool off.
Leaning over the sink, he let the water run freely, the coolness of it against his hands bringing a shiver to his spine. Staring at his own reflection in the mirror, he struggled to calm the thoughts that had been racing through his mind. His eyes held a tension he couldn't quite mask, and he closed them briefly, fighting the urge to let those thoughts consume him.
But he really couldn't bear it anymore.
He slid his right hand down to the waistband of his pants, his fingers brushing against the fabric as he tried to steady himself.
But after a few seconds, he forced himself to stop, shaking his head in frustration.
He exhaled sharply, splashing more water onto his face before running his fingers through his hair.
He hadn't even realized that his phone was missing from his pocket. It wasn't until he left the restroom and glanced at the time that he realized he was cutting it close for the next class.
With a resigned sigh, Jiang Tian quickly exited the restroom, making his way back to the cafeteria in the hope that his friends might still be there.
But when he arrived, the cafeteria was empty, save for a few stragglers finishing their meals. He frowned, patting his pockets instinctively, only to realize that his phone wasn't with him. A look of mild annoyance crossed his face as he recalled leaving it on the table.
Shaking his head, Jiang Tian made his way toward the classrooms, hoping that one of his friends had picked up the phone for him. He moved swiftly, only slowing down when he approached his own classroom to avoid drawing any unnecessary attention.
As he entered through the back of the room, Gao Tianyang immediately noticed him and waved. Jiang Tian slid into his seat, which had previously belonged to Sheng Wang, and leaned toward Tianyang. "Hey, did you grab my phone from the cafeteria?" Jiang Tian asked in a low voice, trying to keep his tone casual. "I left it on the table next to my plate."
Tianyang shook his head. "I didn't take it, but I asked Sheng-ge to hold onto it for you. He has it now," he replied.
Jiang Tian froze momentarily, his mind reeling at the unexpected information. The thought of Sheng Wang holding onto his phone, of all things, made his pulse quicken ever so slightly.
He wasn't hiding anything on his phone, but the mere fact that Sheng Wang was in possession of it made him uneasy, especially considering the awkward tension between them.
Before he could dwell on the thought any longer, Old Wu entered the classroom, effectively putting a halt to any further conversation.
Jiang Tian leaned back in his seat, his fingers tapping lightly on the desk in an attempt to calm his nerves.
Yet, his thoughts kept drifting back to Sheng Wang, who was likely sitting in his own classroom right now, with Jiang Tian's phone in his pocket.
It was irrational, but Jiang Tian couldn't shake the feeling of unease. There was no reason for Sheng Wang to snoop, but that didn't stop the flicker of worry from nagging at the back of his mind. He knew Sheng Wang well enough to know that if any notifications popped up, he might just ignore them out of respect. But, given the recent tension between them, Jiang Tian couldn't help but imagine various scenarios where Sheng Wang might misunderstand something or receive a message that could lead to yet another rift between them.
Jiang Tian closed his eyes for a moment, letting out a quiet sigh for the nth time this day.