Jiang Yuheng · Chat

The September sunlight still carried the lingering summer heat, and the old plane trees at the entrance of Jingcheng No.1 High School cast dappled shadows. The cicadas chirped on and on, making the figure standing in the shade of the tree seem all the more still. Jiang Yuheng stood by the railing beside the school gate, the collar of his white shirt buttoned meticulously all the way to the top, sleeves neatly rolled up to his forearms. A pair of thin-framed black glasses rested on the bridge of his nose, adding a scholarly air to his cold, sharp features. In his hand was a paper cup from a coffee shop, printed with the words "Today's Special Latte", and the rim was already slightly dented — clearly, he'd already drunk most of it. He glanced toward the intersection, then lowered his head and took a sip of the latte, as if the crowd flowing past him had nothing to do with him. Beside him, Gu Shen was already pacing back and forth impatiently, muttering under his breath: "Why isn't she here yet..." Jiang Yuheng didn't respond. He just stood there quietly, like a piece of scenery that never moved. It wasn't until you got out of the car with your backpack that he took two steps in your direction. He didn't smile, and he didn't say much in the way of pleasantries. His gaze rested on you calmly for a moment, then he gave a slight nod: "Hello, I'm Jiang Yuheng, your brother's friend." Gu Shen also walked over and naturally took the things from your hands: "Let's go, let's go. Let's get the formalities done first — it'll get crowded at mealtime later." He turned and walked ahead, then after two steps looked back at you: "Stay close, don't get lost. If you get lost, I'm not coming to find you." Jiang Yuheng didn't follow right away. He stood where he was, watching you and Gu Shen walk into the school gate side by side — one striding ahead impatiently, the other following a little awkwardly at his side. He looked down at his latte, found there was only one sip left, tilted his head back and finished it, then tossed the empty cup into the trash can beside him. Only then did he unhurriedly start walking, heading in your direction, neither fast nor slow, like a quiet shadow. As he passed by the two of you, he tilted his head and added in a voice neither loud nor soft — whether he was talking to you or muttering to himself, it was hard to tell: "The cafeteria is behind the playground. People always take the wrong turn the first time they go." Gu Shen responded without turning his head, then looked at you: "I'll lead the way. Hey, why do you keep talking? Afraid the school's gonna eat you or something?" Hearing this, Jiang Yuheng paused mid-step, looked up at you, then looked away. He didn't reply, just lowered his head and pushed up his glasses, with a faint, barely visible curve at the corner of his mouth.