TAM 17

There was only one major class this morning.

As soon as it ended, Mo Yao hurriedly stopped Li Yahan, who was about to leave the classroom.

Wu Jingyan walked past them with a cold face.

Li Yahan still turned her head to look at Wu Jingyan’s back, and Mo Yao could only ask with concern, “Are you two alright?”

“Nothing,” Li Yahan said with a low mood.

Mo Yao wasn’t too interested in whatever had happened between Li Yahan and Wu Jingyan. He changed the topic and said, “Can you help me with something?”

Li Yahan asked in surprise, “What is it?”

Mo Yao said, “I want to go into the girls’ dorm for a bit. Can you help me sign in?”

Li Yahan looked shocked. “You want to go to our dorm?” She instinctively thought it was because of Wu Jingyan.

Mo Yao said, “I just want to go near the girls’ building, not inside your dorm.”

“What for?” Li Yahan asked, still curious.

Mo Yao’s expression turned serious. “To find my cat.”

They left the teaching building together. Mo Yao saw Si Yuan already on his bicycle.

Si Yuan saw them too but didn’t stop. He rode away.

Li Yahan looked at Si Yuan’s back.

Mo Yao only had his cat in mind. He couldn’t worry about her mood and urged her, “Let’s go.”

Li Yahan took him to the girls’ dorm and signed him in at the gate, saying that he was helping her move something.

After they entered, Mo Yao went straight to the corner where the cats had hidden two nights ago.

The cardboard boxes were still scattered there, but there was no sign of any cat.

He felt disappointed but not surprised. He lifted his head and let out a quiet sigh. Then he turned and asked, “Have you ever seen a black cat in the girls’ dorm?”

“You mean Xiao Hei (little black)?”

“Hm?” Mo Yao’s heart skipped.

Li Yahan said, “There are a few strays around the dorms. I don’t know if it’s the one you mean, but there’s one that’s all black. We call it Xiao Hei.”

Mo Yao asked, “Have you seen a fat gray cat that’s always with it?”

This time, Li Yahan didn’t answer right away. She thought for a moment and said, “Maybe. I don’t really remember.”

Mo Yao said, “If you see them, let me know.”

“Alright…” Li Yahan hesitated a little. “But they move fast. Even if I tell you, you can’t catch them. Are you trying to catch them?”

“I’m not,” Mo Yao said. “I just want to see them.”

He knew there was no point in staying, so he said goodbye to her and left the dorm.

There was still some time left in the morning. Mo Yao walked around a few of the teaching buildings, but he still couldn’t find the two cats.

Near noon, his empty stomach started to feel heavy. He left the building and headed to the cafeteria alone.

After getting his food, he found an empty table and sat down, but before he could start eating, someone placed a tray across from him.

Mo Yao lifted his head and saw Wu Jingyan sitting opposite him.

She had food on her tray but didn’t touch it. Her eyes were red as she stared at him.

Mo Yao asked, “What’s wrong?”

Wu Jingyan asked, “What’s going on between you and Li Yahan?”

Mo Yao hadn’t answered yet when another tray landed on the seat beside him with a loud sound, as if it had been thrown down.

Si Yuan pulled out the chair and sat beside him.

Wu Jingyan looked at Si Yuan.

Si Yuan didn’t look at her. He stirred his fried rice with a spoon and lowered his head to eat in big mouthfuls.

Mo Yao didn’t know what to say, so he lowered his head to eat too.

Wu Jingyan said, “Mo Yao, do you still see me as a friend?”

“I guess so,” Mo Yao answered vaguely.

Si Yuan continued eating, not looking at either of them.

Wu Jingyan’s eyes started to redden. “I thought you both were my best friends.”

Mo Yao thought, whether she was or not, I’m not. Then he thought that maybe Wu Jingyan just needed to feel seen. Maybe she didn’t even know what she wanted, and only liked the feeling of being the center of attention.

Si Yuan suddenly looked up and said, “Are you his girlfriend?”

Both Wu Jingyan and Mo Yao froze.

After a moment, Wu Jingyan realized he was talking to her. She looked stunned and said, “No.”

Si Yuan said, “Then you crossed the line.”

Mo Yao couldn’t help but turn to look at him.

Wu Jingyan’s pride and temper seemed to shrink in front of Si Yuan. Her lips moved, but she said nothing.

Si Yuan said, “If you’re just friends, then there’s no need for all this.”

Wu Jingyan looked at Mo Yao.

Mo Yao thought Si Yuan was right, so he stayed silent and continued eating.

Wu Jingyan picked up her tray and left.

Only Mo Yao and Si Yuan remained sitting side by side.

Si Yuan acted like nothing had happened and continued eating his fried rice.

Mo Yao couldn’t hold back anymore. “Why did you say that?” He remembered that Si Yuan never involved himself in other people’s matters.

Si Yuan said, “What were you doing?”

“What?”

“What were you doing with Li Yahan after class?”

“I was looking for my cat!” Mo Yao couldn’t hold it anymore. “My cat’s gone!”

“Your cat?” Si Yuan’s tone stayed calm. “You keep cats on campus?”

“Yeah. Two of them. A black one and some fat thing I don’t even know what it is. Both are missing!” Mo Yao was agitated.

“How could they disappear if they’re yours?”

“I don’t know!” Mo Yao lifted his head and put down his chopsticks. “I want to know that too!”

“Why are you keeping cats in school?”

Mo Yao froze, suddenly alert. “Why do you care?”

Si Yuan laughed but didn’t answer.

After lunch, the two of them went back to the dorm.

Zhang Ziyu and Chen Xinyong were already there. Chen Xinyong lay on his bed playing with his phone. When he saw the two of them return together, he glanced at them and turned away, his back facing the room.

The dorm quieted down. There were still afternoon classes, and everyone lay down for a nap.

Mo Yao lay there for a long time but couldn’t sleep. He sat up, leaned against the wall, and folded his legs.

The sound of Si Yuan turning over came from the top bunk.

After a while, Si Yuan climbed down. Through the mosquito net, he looked at Mo Yao, then went to the bathroom.

Mo Yao heard the sound of water, so he got down too and walked to the bathroom door. He saw Si Yuan washing his face with cold water and asked in a low voice, “Where are you going so early?” He was only curious. It was too early for class, and there wasn’t enough time to fit in a part-time shift.

Si Yuan said, “I’m going to look for the cat.”

Mo Yao froze.

Si Yuan hung his towel on the rack and started walking out. As he passed his desk, he grabbed his afternoon class book.

Mo Yao came to his senses, rushed to follow, but ran back to grab his own book.

He caught up at the dorm door and saw Si Yuan heading toward the bike shed. He ran up to him. “What cat are you talking about?”

Si Yuan said, “Your black cat.”

“What?” Mo Yao didn’t understand.

Si Yuan said, “I think it’s not on campus.”

“Why?” Mo Yao had to quicken his pace to keep up.

Si Yuan walked very quickly as always. He entered the stuffy bike shed and unlocked his bicycle.

Mo Yao grabbed the handlebars. “What do you mean? How do you know it’s not on campus?”

Si Yuan had already mounted the bike. He looked at him. “Just guessing. Do you want to go check?”

Mo Yao climbed onto the back seat first, grabbed Si Yuan’s waist, and asked, “Where are we going to check?”

Si Yuan pushed off with one foot. “Outside.”

At noon, Si Yuan rode his bike with Mo Yao from the side gate of the school. They went through two or three nearby residential areas.

At first, Mo Yao thought what Si Yuan said made no sense, but later he realized it wasn’t wrong to check those places. Stray cats didn’t stay in one spot. If the nearby neighborhoods had food or people who fed them, they could easily go there to look for food.

But then he thought again. What did Si Yuan mean by this? Was he familiar with the black cat? Did he somehow know where it would go? Or was he just being kind and keeping him company?

Why was Si Yuan suddenly acting so warm toward him?

They searched through a few neighborhoods but didn’t find any cats. It was almost time for class.

Si Yuan stopped the bike outside a convenience store by the school gate and went in to buy water.

Mo Yao waited by the bike, he was feeling confused. Then Si Yuan came back and handed him a bottle of cold water.

Mo Yao blinked. “Thanks.” He took it but immediately felt awkward. “I’ll pay you back,” he said, and after a pause, added, “No, I’ll treat you.”

“No need,” Si Yuan said, and suddenly reached out to ruffle Mo Yao’s hair. Then he opened his own bottle, tilted his head back, and took a drink like it was nothing.

Mo Yao stood frozen, his eyes wide, his heart pounding. He wondered which of them had gone crazy.