Ferocious Dog of Old

With his heart of stone, the little blind boy maintained his insensitive demeanour for quite some time. He wasn’t very sensitive to these things. Normally, when he received the girls’ attentive care, he didn’t take it for granted either; his brother would bring things back whenever he went travelling for him to share with his friends in school.

After a while, Tao Huainan became quite close to those girls who looked after him.

Chi Ku was one of the few students with particular promise in their class, so he would occasionally take part in inter-school competitions and the like. When he wasn’t in class, Tao Huainan didn’t lack for people by his side; kind-hearted girls would take the initiative to sit with him, holding his arm when he walked and softly warning him of obstacles ahead.

The girls were soft and gentle, and when they looked at Tao Huainan their gazes were always kindly.

Sometimes a girl would delicately ask him about Chi Ku, and Tao Huainan would say good things about him, like my xiao-ge just looks fierce, he’s actually really nice.

Chi Ku was too unapproachable. Other than Tao Huainan, he seemed to have almost no social interactions, never speaking to anyone unprompted.

This made Tao Huainan very worried, afraid that he would get into conflicts with people. He hoped he would have a better social life, so anytime anyone asked about him, Tao Huainan would talk a little longer.

Chi Ku was completely unaware of this. The young top student was quite busy recently.

–

On the weekend, Tao Huainan had to have his eyes checked. Though his eyes couldn’t be treated, Tao Xiaodong never gave up, often bringing him for check-ups. It was also to prevent any malignant developments.

Tao Huainan didn’t use to like having his eyes checked. The touch of the icy cold machinery on his skin scared him—the doctors’ voices and hands gave him no sense of security at all.

On Friday night, Tao Huainan held the plate of fruits, eating pineapple. He turned and sneezed.

It was early winter, and the weather outside was already quite cold. Inside, the heating was sufficient and it wasn’t cold, but the air was very dry. Tao Huainan sneezed three times in a row. Tao Xiaodong asked, “Did you catch a cold?”

Chi Ku had just come out of the shower. When he walked past, he felt Tao Huainan’s forehead with his hand.

“Probably not,” said Chi Ku.

Tao Huainan rubbed his nose and said, “My nose itches.”

“If you have a cold, you can get an IV drip tomorrow too,” said Tao Xiaodong as he glanced at the calendar. “Your eye check is tomorrow.”

“Oh.” Tao Huainan’s answer was quite calm, with no sign of objecting.

“Things are different now that we’ve changed doctors, huh?” Tao Xiaodong teased. “You’re not saying you won’t go anymore?”

Tao Huainan stuffed another forkful of pineapple into his mouth, only smiling without speaking.

–

Some time ago, Tian Yi introduced them to someone who had been his senior at school and had only just returned from abroad; this was an excellent eye specialist. That day, Tao Xiaodong didn’t go; Tao Huainan was brought by Tian Yi, and when he returned he told Tao Xiaodong that he really liked this doctor.

From then on, Tao Huainan stopped being so resistant to getting his eyes checked. He was even quite positive.

Tao Xiaodong had met the doctor twice himself to discuss Tao Huainan’s eyes. As he spoke, the doctor’s temperament was gentle, his manner calming to patients and their families.

Tao Huainan liked him especially, and listened to him.

–

On Saturday morning, Tao Huainan and Chi Ku got themselves ready. He held Chi Ku’s hand and prepared to leave.

Tao Xiaodong said, “You’re coming straight back after the eye check-up anyway. I can bring you alone. Xiao Ku can stay home.”

Tao Huainan didn’t even think. He shook his head. “No.”

“Xiao Ku has a paper next week, doesn’t he? Let him study at home. Going to the hospital will waste too much of his time.” Tao Xiaodong put his hat on for him and tried to lead him out.

Tao Huainan’s face looked toward Chi Ku. He didn’t let go of his hand, even swaying it. “Xiao-ge, come with me.”

“It’s fine, let’s go together,” said Chi Ku.

“Ignore him,” Tao Xiaodong said, annoyed. “You should study.”

Tao Huainan started calling him “xiao-ge” again.

“I’ll go with you.” Chi Ku let go of his hand to put on his coat; Tao Huainan immediately grabbed it again. “Let’s go,” said Chi Ku.

“You’re spoilt.” Tao Xiaodong laughed and flicked the back of Tao Huainan’s neck.

Tao Huainan sometimes depended a little too heavily on Chi Ku. Tao Xiaodong felt he was a bit too clingy. The two children grew up together; their good relationship did make Tao Xiaodong happy, but Tao Huainan couldn’t leave Chi Ku for a moment, and this was quite worrying.

Children couldn’t stay this way forever, after all. They were going to grow up, and if they were going to be this inseparable then, it would be a problem.

But these concerns were a bit premature at the moment. No rush.

–

Tao Huainan’s eyes had maintained their condition for many years now; they were well maintained.

After the check, the doctor had him sit to the side. Tao Huainan sat there and began to wait, eyes open. The doctor smiled as he said, “Such big eyes.”

Tao Huainan gave an embarrassed laugh.

The doctor’s voice was nice. Tao Huainan was a hundred-percent voice-con1, so naturally he liked him.

After the examination, the doctor said, “Quite good. Keep at it.”

The doctor talked to his brother for a while. Tao Huainan stuck close to Chi Ku as they stood by the door. The hospital was too full of noise, and there were many people around on the weekend. When his brother came out, Tao Huainan was in the middle of whispering something to Chi Ku. He didn’t know what it was, but Tao Huainan looked slightly disappointed.

“What are you talking about?” asked Tao Xiaodong.

–

The school had a special advanced2 class for the top students in the mid-term exams. Every day, during the final two periods in the afternoon, they would no longer stay in class for self-study; they had to go to the lecture hall together for advanced lessons.

In their class, only Chi Ku and the academic rep were going. Chi Ku didn’t mention it last week; he only just mentioned it now.

Tao Huainan blinked. After a long while, he asked, “Do you have to go every day?”

Yes, said Chi Ku.

Tao Huainan mm-ed, then didn’t make a sound for quite some time.

He couldn’t finish classes with Chi Ku every day now. He had to sit alone for the final two periods, then go downstairs by himself to wait for Chi Ku.

Tao Xiaodong came out just as Tao Huainan was saying, with some consternation, “In that case, you should come out quickly after you finish lessons. I’ll wait for you outside.”

“You don’t have to come out, just wait for me in the classroom. I’ll come get you after class,” said Chi Ku.

Tao Huainan shook his head and said, “No need, it’s too much trouble for you.”

After Tao Xiaodong found out what they were talking about, he laughed and said, “Such a big deal.”

–

This really was quite a big deal to Tao Huainan. Without someone close by his side, staying in any environment made him uncomfortable, somewhat lonely.

On Monday afternoon, the academic rep stood by Chi Ku’s seat, waiting for him so they could leave together. Tao Huainan repeated softly to Chi Ku, “I’ll wait in the hall on the ground floor.”

Chi Ku packed his bag and said to the academic rep, “Go ahead, don’t wait for me.”

The rep whispered, “It’s fine, let’s go together. I’m afraid I can’t find the room.”

Chi Ku didn’t speak to her again. As he packed, he said to Tao Huainan, “You don’t have to wait downstairs. Just sit here and wait.”

Tao Huainan wanted to speak again, but Chi Ku had already risen and was about to leave. “Sit here and wait for me, understand?”

Tao Huainan could only purse his lips and nod.

–

Since he agreed, Tao Huainan was of course obedient. After school, all his classmates were gone; even those on duty to clean up the classroom had finished and left, yet Tao Huainan still sat slumped, waiting for Chi Ku.

For their first lesson, the advanced class teacher didn’t adhere to the schedule, prolonging it by twenty minutes.

Chi Ku ran upstairs. When he pushed the door open, Tao Huainan’s cheek was pressed against the table, smushed out of shape, and he still had his backpack on his back.

From the footsteps, he could hear it was Chi Ku. Tao Huainan immediately bounced up. “Xiao-ge?”

Chi Ku answered. Tao Huainan rose and felt his way out, his belly knocking the corner of the table.

“I told you I’d go down and wait for you, but you insisted on coming back up. Now you’ve had to run around for no reason.” Now that the person he’d been waiting for had come, Tao Huainan smiled, reaching out and waiting for Chi Ku to take his hand.

Chi Ku led him as he turned off the lights and left the classroom, saying, “There’re too many people.”

“I could just find a corner without people and stand there,” said Tao Huainan.

“How?” Chi Ku led him down the stairs. “You’d knock into things.”

–

Just as they went down the stairs, they ran into the academic rep on her way up. She asked them, “Is there anyone left in the classroom?”

Tao Huainan said no.

The academic rep was slightly panicked, saying that she hadn’t taken her homework. Good students were exceedingly concerned about these things; if she couldn’t hand in her homework tomorrow morning, it would be too shameful.

The girl was close to tears. She asked Chi Ku, “Can the door be reopened?”

Chi Ku shook his head.

“Then what do I do?” The girl gripped the strap of her bag with one hand, frowning as if she really was about to cry.

Tao Huainan turned his back to Chi Ku and said, “Check and see if I have mine?”

He never had to hand in homework for class since he couldn’t write anyway. Sometimes, they wouldn’t even give him the homework, and even if they did, Tao Huainan might not take it.

Chi Ku was too lazy to look. He took his own and gave it to the academic rep.

“What about you?” The girl didn’t quite dare to take it.

“It’s fine, if I have mine, I’ll give it to him,” said Tao Huainan.

“What if you don’t?”

Boys and girls had completely different levels of concern. Tao Huainan didn’t care about the consequences of not handing in homework at all. He waved easily. “If I don’t, then I don’t. It’s fine if he doesn’t do it.”

“…huh?” The girl was stunned. It was okay not to do homework?

“Take it,” Tao Huainan said with a smile.

–

Chi Ku’s homework was taken away today, and Tao Huainan didn’t bring his back either.

The next morning, when they collected homework at the door, Chi Ku said frankly that he hadn’t done it.

Top students had special privileges in the eyes of teachers, but it didn’t mean he could be so bold when he hadn’t done his homework. Their class teacher scolded him at the door, just perfunctorily; after a few lines, she let him in.

The academic rep sat in the first row. Her face was red as she bowed her head.

This was probably Chi Ku’s first time being scolded; the top in the year normally wouldn’t be scolded. Tao Huainan chuckled. He felt it was quite novel.

–

The author has something to say:

Brat, stop laughing.
Thanks for your support.

–

1 i.e.  someone who really likes voices. More on “-con”
2 Literal translation: rocket class