I'm A Math Idiot, So What? - Chapter 45

Fang Congxin really was tired. While I went to the kitchen to pour a glass of water, he had already fallen asleep in my room. Before lying down, he handed me a black card, saying that he was particularly happy today and let me order whatever I wanted.

I replied that delivery didn’t use POS machines anymore. If I used his card to order, I’d have to link it to my account; he might as well just send me a red envelope directly. He said that sending red envelopes was such a hassle each time, and if I wanted to bind it, I might as well go ahead. I warned him that once it was linked, the meaning behind it would be different; are you sure you want to become my dining buddy, regardless of whether I’m poor or rich, flawed or perfect, healthy or sick?

Fang Congxin clutched the card and remarked that he didn’t expect me and Xu Zheng to be so ceremonial about it. I retorted that Xu Zheng usually gave me cash like a country bumpkin, saying it felt especially nice to send me money, unlike the fashionable way you do it. After saying this, Fang Congxin grumbled and went back to his room to sleep. He joked that if he didn’t sleep soon, he might lose control of his temper and accidentally hit me. I watched him go into his room, put my hands together, and mimicked a Thai accent saying, “Swipe my card!”

I generously ordered a full banquet on the food delivery platform and then returned to the homework task set by Fang Congxin. I had barely solved one problem when my brain decided to take a break. How should I talk to Zhang Ziqin about the situation with Zhao Xiaoxiao?

My roommate Shen Xueyun was still on American time and probably hadn’t woken up yet. This guy Wang Ziqi told me the other day that she was coming back soon; if we need to discuss something, it’s better to talk face-to-face. Maybe I’ll wait until she returns to discuss it. Speaking of which, it had been a while since I heard anything from Xu Zheng. I had opened an account with the meal money he had previously given me and had secretly saved a bit.

If he really pursued his goddess, I’d hand over the meal money as a contribution. “Are you alive?” I sent a warm greeting. Not long after, Xu Zheng replied with a smiling emoji: “What’s up?”

“I’m just asking if you have any tips for making big money.”

“Check the criminal law; the ones with the highest sentences make money the fastest.”

“What are you up to?” Xu Zheng sent me a location, and when I looked at the address, it turned out to be the Litop Training Center, the tutoring organization for studying abroad that Ge Chunchun mentioned!

“I’m about to take the entrance exam. I felt that the previous training methods weren’t immersive enough, so I signed up for a class run by a foreigner.”

“How’s it going?”

“I’ve already mastered sign language.”

“Do you know the gorgeous beauty Tong Xiao?”

“Besides you, the only beauty in this world, I don’t know anyone else!”

“You don’t need to try so hard to survive; just say whether you know her or not.”

“Who here doesn’t know her?”

“She’s my colleague.”

“You didn’t set up a meeting with the beauty at the first opportunity?”What crime should you be charged with?”

“I’m saying you don’t need to have such a strong survival instinct; it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have one at all. Let me check my Lin family’s code to see what you should be charged with.”

“The signal is bad. Hello—hello—hello—bye-bye,” I waved as I turned off my phone screen. Just then, there was a knock at the door. I thought it was the delivery. I hurried to open it, but when I did, instead of the delivery person in yellow, there stood Zhang Ziqin, wearing sunglasses and holding a black plastic bag.

I glanced at the dimly lit corridor and then at her oversized sunglasses, realizing that Zhang Ziqin must have found out about Zhao Xiaoxiao’s infidelity, leaving her eyes swollen from crying. I wondered if the black plastic bag contained Zhao Xiaoxiao’s head. I quickly invited the suspect inside. She pushed her glasses up and said, “I didn’t know where to hide, so I thought I’d come here to rest for a bit.”

I looked again at the black plastic bag and, feeling apprehensive, asked, “What are you hiding from? Killing someone is still a crime, and I can’t harbor you—” She started to open the plastic bag. I covered my eyes and peeked through my fingers as she slowly unwrapped it, pulling out what looked like a human head—but no, it was a pile of alcohol and medicine.

Then Zhang Ziqin took off her sunglasses, revealing her horrifyingly swollen right eye. “What the heck!” I slapped the table and shouted, “Zhao Xiaoxiao has gone too far! He actually dared to commit domestic violence! I’m going to kill Zhao Xiaoxiao right now!”

Zhang Ziqin grabbed me, trying to calm my excitement. “What are you imagining? Xiaoxiao wouldn’t dare hit me; this is just a workplace injury, caused by a patient’s family member.”

“Ah? Why?”

“I’m interning in the Dermatology and Venereology Department at the Municipal People’s Hospital. Today, a woman came in and demanded our director personally assure her that her husband’s genital warts weren’t contagious. I was a bit too outspoken and said that genital warts are sexually transmitted, so she shouldn’t be fooled by her husband. She then started hitting me. I didn’t expect her to be small but surprisingly strong.””I’m afraid Xiaoxiao will feel heartbroken seeing me like this, so I came here to recuperate for a couple of days. I told him I had some family matters and went back to my hometown.”

“Oh—” Zhang Ziqin shook her head, “Sigh, women are truly pitiful, preferring to be kept in the dark.”

“Yeah.” I looked down at my shoes. There was another knock at the door. This time, the delivery had really arrived. Zhang Ziqin saw me receiving a large bag of takeout and looked at me with confusion, “Lin Meng, why did you order so much? Can you eat it all by yourself?!” It suddenly reminded me that Fang Congxin was still sleeping in my room. Now wasn’t the time to explain. I stammered, “I… I’m hungry.”

“Are you hyperthyroid? Come to our hospital tomorrow to get your blood drawn.”

“Isn’t that unnecessary?” I said, feeling guilty.

“How can it be unnecessary? I’m telling you, you must control diseases at their nascent stage; you can’t be careless. For example, regarding genital warts, you must—”

I took out the food one by one, “Let’s not talk about genital warts. Sit down and eat.”

“What’s up with you? You’re acting a bit strange; it feels off.” As Zhang Ziqin was unwrapping chopsticks, she said, “Everyone’s been a bit odd lately. Xiaoxiao is too.”

I took a bite of rice and stared at the leftover grains on my chopsticks, saying, “What’s strange about him?”

“A few days ago, he sent me a WeChat message, and there was an extra period.”

“Huh?”

“I mean, at the end of his last sentence, there were always two periods.”

“How is that strange? Isn’t that normal?” I thought to myself that Zhang Ziqin was like the modern-day Sherlock Holmes, but I still nonchalantly replied.

“You wouldn’t understand. You’ll get the feeling when you start dating. By the way, we have several single interns at our hospital. There’s one who looks a bit like a budget Liu Haoran; if you’re interested, I can introduce you.”

I was still preoccupied with Zhao Xiaoxiao’s situation and casually said, “Let’s talk about it later.”

“Don’t be too picky—” As she was saying that, Zhang Ziqin suddenly paused.

“What’s wrong?” I followed her gaze and saw Fang Congxin standing barefoot in the middle of my living room, dressed in a wrinkled shirt with a few strands of hair sticking up.

Zhang Ziqin’s mouth dropped open in shock. She would look at me, then at him, then at the table full of food, before suddenly standing up and saying, “I’ve overstepped! You can be picky! You definitely can!””He—he’s not the one from your math class—the one—” Am I using my medical student eyes as a scanner? “The Beauty of Mathematics” has such an impressionistic photo from so long ago, and you can still recognize him.

“Let me explain! It’s not what you think!”

“Hello, I’m Fang Congxin!” Fang Congxin walked over and extended his hand to Zhang Ziqin. She hurriedly reached out her hand too, putting on her sunglasses with her left hand as her right hand was extended: “Hello, I’m Zhang Ziqin.” Fang Congxin was slightly startled.

I made faces at him, signaling him not to reveal what happened tonight. Fang Congxin understood and nodded at me. We had a tacit understanding! I then turned to Zhang Ziqin and explained seriously: “He’s my math tutor! He just got tired earlier and came in to rest for a bit.” Fang Congxin earnestly helped clarify, “Yes, I was just lying on the window seat.”

Zhang Ziqin whispered to me, “Is this interesting or not? I saw the micro-expressions you two exchanged earlier! You’re a pair of lovers!”

“……”

“Alright, stop hiding your mistress! I won’t be jealous; my Xiaoxiao is way better than this one you have—Fang—”

“Fang Congxin,” Fang Congxin added thoughtfully.

“Right, he’s much more handsome than you,” Zhang Ziqin said with a smile. Both of us froze for a moment.

“I’m just joking!” Zhang Ziqin exclaimed loudly, “Oh no, today I didn’t read the atmosphere and came over abruptly. I’ll be leaving now.” I quickly grabbed her arm, “Where are you going looking like that?”

Zhang Ziqin said playfully, “Of course, I’m going back to my rented place. I was worried that if Xiaoxiao came, he’d run into me. But I told him I went back to my hometown, so he shouldn’t go there. He’s a local, after all.” Saying this, she picked up a black plastic bag and started to leave.

“Eat before you go.”

“I’m not Edison, working here to invent light bulbs. I’m leaving!” She turned to Fang Congxin with a smile: “Next time when it’s convenient, please treat us to a meal. It has to be really expensive!”

Fang Congxin sincerely replied, “Absolutely.” I thought to myself, you really know how to join in on the fun; whatever they say, you can respond to.“At the dinner table, I will definitely repay you for all the wrongs you did to Xiaoxiao back then! I’ve waited a long time for this moment!

But, fair is fair; since you came here to see a doctor, I’ll give you a 50% discount.” Zhang Ziqin playfully winked behind her sunglasses, waiting for me to explain. I felt quite uncomfortable; I had no mood for joking around. Fang Congxin, the silly guy, chimed in, “Then I’ll try to make it happen.”

“Pffft.” Zhang Ziqin laughed, “Ah, I feel like I’ve already avenged half of it.” With that, she strutted off. As soon as the door closed, I immediately slumped onto the table, not wanting to move. Zhang Ziqin was even more pitiful than that woman who hit her. Her good friend was covering for the scumbag who hurt her, allowing him to deceive her for another day, making her live like a joke for yet another day. She had lost love and, at the same time, friendship. I despised myself for being an ostrich just a moment ago.

Fang Congxin sat beside me, silently watching me. The air conditioning blew gently. The house was very quiet, with only the ticking of the clock’s second hand breaking the silence. “Fang Congxin,” I called him in a deep voice.

“Hmm?”

“Please don’t do anything to ruin their relationship, okay?”

“Alright. I’ve been holding back from doing anything.”

“Then why did you agree to join me in teasing Tong Xiao and shaking her heart?”

“Sometimes, getting too close to someone you like, spending too much time with them, dulls your reasoning, lowers your moral standards, and makes you greedy, wanting to be closer and spend more time with them.”

“Oh, that’s not right.”

“Hmm.”

“Then now that you’ve decided not to disturb them, can I delay my payment of 1150 for another month and a half?”

“No, you can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because she doesn’t have a boyfriend.”

“Ah?!” I sat up, “How do you know?”

“She said it herself.”

“But before, you said the person you liked had a boyfriend.”

“She doesn’t have a boyfriend now. I misunderstood.”

“When did you find this out?”

“Just now.” I thought for a few seconds about who he meant by “she”; could it possibly be me? An hour ago, I had just held a press conference, but Fang Congxin’s phone flashed, and I saw “Tong Xiao” on WeChat. What a coincidence!

Then Fang Congxin said again, “So now I can be detached without thoughts weighing me down.”

“Since she actively told you she’s single, why still be distant?”

“You said to pursue a girl requires this detachment.”

“Oh—it’s not such an absolute rule—”

“But I really want to give it a try.”

“Alright. Let me explain the steps for chasing a girl in detail—” Then I referenced various examples, going over everything that’s been portrayed in idol dramas.I could see that Fang Congxin was listening seriously, responding with his eyes and gestures, which made me talk even more, to the point where I couldn’t quite hold back. It seemed that my bad mood was temporarily lifted. Just when I was getting dry-mouthed from talking, Fang Congxin suddenly said, “It’s time to do the exercises.”

“Aren’t I just explaining the theory to you?”

“Theory is useless. Hurry up and do the exercises.”

“You listened for so long and say it’s useless! This is like crossing the river and tearing down the bridge!”

“Tear down what bridge? What’s worth tearing down about this shoddy bridge made of tofu dregs?”

“…….” A memo from Fang Congxin: Heaven and hell are very close, just a single word or thought away from her. I felt as if I had seen the dawn of my life.