I'm A Math Idiot, So What? - Chapter 62

Chapter 62: Forbidden Love (1)

After a nap at the bar, a few drinks, a breath of fresh air, and enduring Xu Zheng’s heartfelt confessions, I found myself wide awake at home.

Human emotions are truly bizarre.

A loves B, B loves C, C loves D—a chain of one-sided arrows, like a school of lonely ribbonfish.

Mutual affection is so rare, like Fang Congxin and Tong Xiao’s connection.

Sitting on the toilet, I pondered life for a while, contemplating whether to adopt a Zen attitude and bless Fang Congxin’s romance. But then I remembered his terrible behavior toward me earlier today. What does he think I am, a goddamn toilet? I have to swallow his shit and pretend to be happy?

I flopped back onto the sofa, pulled out my phone, and instinctively opened Taobao. Only then did it hit me: something was wrong.

Xu Zheng’s birthday was on the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month—Double Eleven!

His birthday parties always ended with a shopping spree!

Today, they had pretended to scatter nonchalantly to give Xu Zheng a chance to confess. I had been too preoccupied with Fang Congxin’s lousy mood to remember.

A glance at the clock showed it was nearly 1 AM. The rock-bottom prices were long gone. I fucking missed out on a fortune—all for two doomed romances!

Is love even worth it?

Hell no!

With less than an hour until the 2:00 AM flash sale, I frantically opened Taobao and compared the items in my favorites and shopping cart one by one. Sitting at my desk, I meticulously recorded my subsidy coupons and the advance deposits I’d made over the past two weeks.

Just as I was concentrating intensely, I suddenly heard a strange noise.

My head snapped up unconsciously, and I let out a piercing scream.

“Ah!”

A plump rat was sauntering along the newly installed electrical conduit. Startled by my shriek, it scurried toward the balcony.

My balcony had been sealed off during a later renovation, so I raced over to slam the balcony door shut, pressing myself against the glass like a quail awaiting slaughter. My senses sharpened, amplifying every sound within the room until they roared in my ears.

Then came a knock at the door.

Who could it be at this ungodly hour?

I wanted to cry.

A frantic voice called from outside, “Lin Meng, it’s me! What’s wrong?”

Recognizing Fang Congxin’s voice, I bolted to the door and threw it open. The moment I saw him, I nearly burst into tears, blurting out, “Holy shit, there’s a huge rat in here!”

Fang Congxin’s eyes widened. “A rat?!”

I pursed my lips. “Oh, right. You’re even more of a scaredy-cat than I am. You can’t even handle getting a tooth pulled.”

Fang Congxin shot me a particularly fierce glare. “Where is it?”

I pointed. “On the balcony.”

He strode directly to the balcony door, opened it, and stepped onto the balcony.

The moment his front foot crossed the threshold, I slammed the door shut and locked it behind him.

Fang Congxin banged on the glass door. “You’re so loyal.”

I taunted him through the glass. “Didn’t you used to dream of slaying dragons? Maybe start with a mouse first.”

Then I pressed my face against the glass, barking instructions like a general directing his troops: “Over there! Over there! Not the left! Ah, go right! Use the broom!”

Next, I watched in horror as the extraordinarily brave mouse, in its panic, leaped straight toward his face.

Then, with even greater audacity, the dragon-slaying boy swatted it down barehanded and stomped its tiny life out in one swift move.

I flung open the door, clapping wildly and shouting, “Welcome home, hero!”

Fang Congxin went downstairs to dispose of the dead mouse. When he returned, he retreated to the bathroom and scrubbed his hands repeatedly.

With the great enemy vanquished, my rationality returned. Standing in the doorway, I asked, “Why are you here so late?”

“Can’t I be?”

“No. Have you even checked the time? It’s past midnight.”

Fang Congxin squeezed a dollop of facial cleanser into his palm, lathering his face as he retorted, “Lin Meng, don’t bite the hand that feeds you. Listen, if there’s a big mouse, there’s probably a nest of baby mice too.”

I immediately burst into song: “Our front door is always open, welcoming you with open arms.”

“If you don’t sing, we can still be friends.”

I said, “I forgot to turn off my camera after finishing my homework today. Were you downstairs earlier, watching me through the camera? Did you rush up here only after hearing me scream?”

“You’re overthinking things. I just happened to be passing by.”

“Where could you be driving to that would take you past my house?”

I crossed my arms and glared at him. “Sigh, did you feel bad about blowing me off this afternoon and come all the way down here to apologize? Did you linger downstairs, too embarrassed to come up?”

“Don’t be shy. I forgive you, considering you’re the rat-slaying hero.”

I handed him the towel. “Hey, are you and Tong Xiao together now? Congrats, congrats! Getting coupled up before Singles’ Day—talk about perfect timing!”

After wiping his face, Fang Congxin flung the towel at my head. “Coupled up, my ass! Looks like some people are rushing to couple up. And dragging two others into it!”

Having spent too much time with me, Fang Congxin’s mouth had grown as foul as mine.

“What are you implying?” I asked.

“Do I need to imply anything? I’m being perfectly clear today. Who was hugging and kissing a guy downstairs earlier?”

“I—”

“And what about the other day? Who dragged Brother Fengfeng out for dinner, leaving me waiting outside alone for over four hours? Not a word of apology afterward, just acting like nothing happened, all the way until today.”

“I—”

“Today I told you to wait for me and reflect on your mistakes. And what did you do? You ran off in less than ten minutes! Do you even have any sense of morality?”

“I was wrong!”

“When you told me to wait for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, I should have realized you were hinting that I should kowtow three times. But I misunderstood and thought you meant a mosquito coil, so I figured I’d skip it.” I scratched my head, then straightened my neck and shouted back, “Fang Congxin, are you stupid? Why were you waiting for me outside Changning High School? Were you planning to wait there forever if I didn’t come out? As an internet professional, don’t you understand that the great thing about information technology is remote communication?”

Fang Congxin gritted his teeth. “I haven’t sunk so low that I need you to lecture me on information technology!”

Then he roared, “Didn’t I tell you I’d be waiting outside the school?!”

I immediately ducked my head. “Aiya, Aiya, keep your voice down! You’ll scare the rats out.”

Fang Congxin is such a petty guy, I thought. So that’s why he’s been ignoring me all week—giving me the silent treatment. You should have warned me! You unilaterally gave me the cold shoulder for days, and I just went about my business. Only today do I realize he’s been staging a silent protest. How much of a loss is that for him?

Of course, I didn’t dare say any of that out loud.

I quickly changed the subject, making up a story: “You’re here just in time.

I was actually planning to come see you today. I need you to come to my place at midnight tonight.

There’s something I need to tell you.”

“Why does it have to be midnight?”

“Some things just have to be said—and done—at this exact moment today to have any meaning!

You know what day it is tomorrow—no, today, right?”

Fang Congxin’s tone softened instantly, his eyes gleaming mischievously as he looked at me: “You already said it’s Singles’ Day.

So, what is it you wanted to tell me?”

As he spoke, he wiped his damp hands on his pants, looking visibly nervous.

I pulled out my phone, gazing at him imploringly: “Today’s Singles’ Day, also known as Shopping Festival. You’re good at math—can you help me figure out the cheapest way to combine these subsidies, deposits, coupons, and discounts?

We need to hurry; the early-bird discounts expire soon.

I’ve been calculating for ages and still can’t make sense of it.

Oh, do you need to buy anything?

We can combine orders to save even more!”

Fang Congxin’s face darkened, and two words hissed through his teeth: “Get lost!”

In the end, after my relentless pleading, Fang Congxin became my human calculator.

With each item I added to my shopping cart, the “discount advisor” automatically adjusted my shopping plan, leaving me practically bubbling with excitement.

“This has to be the most cost-effective way, right?”

Before finalizing my order, I double-checked with him repeatedly.

Fang Congxin coolly replied, “Not buying anything is the most cost-effective option.”

Ignoring him, I gleefully placed the order.

As soon as I clicked ‘submit,’ everything went dark.

The lights went out.

I flicked the switch again—still no power.

How shameless!

Daring to cut the power on Double Eleven?!

After ranting, I thought with lingering fear, Thank goodness I finished shopping. Otherwise, I’d have to buy more data.

“Can you fix it?”

“I’m not an electrician.”

“I used to think IT was just half electrician, half network administrator.”

I scratched my head, letting my pupils adjust to the darkness.

Once my eyes adapted, I realized Fang Congxin was sitting right next to me.

“Why haven’t you left yet?”

“I was worried you’d be scared.”

“I’m not afraid of the dark.”

“It’s not the dark. I heard a mouse just now.”

“Huh?”

My hair stood on end again. Grabbing his sleeve, I scanned the room. “Where?”

“Sounds like it’s in the living room. Don’t talk. Just listen carefully.”

Following his instructions, I fell silent.

Fang Congxin listened intently, ears perked up. After a few minutes of silence, my guard relaxed again, and I asked, “You must have misheard.”

Fang Congxin, still uneasy, suggested, “Why don’t you come stay at my place tonight?”

“Staying at your place in the middle of the night? What would that look like?”

“Then stay at a hotel.”

“Come on, it’s Singles’ Day! There won’t be any rooms available.”

Fang Congxin turned to look at me. “You sound like you’ve got some experience with this.”

“I just read the news, okay?”

“Well, if you don’t want to sleep inside, I can rough it out here.” He paused. “I’ll call the rat exterminator first thing in the morning.”

“You should sleep on the bay window.”

“You don’t mind?”

“You’ve been sleeping on the bay window for ages. Asking now seems a bit late, don’t you think?”

We chatted for a while in the pitch-dark room, finally agreeing on the sleeping arrangements: Fang Congxin would take the bay window, and I’d get the bed.

Logically, I should have been nervous sleeping in the same room as someone I liked. But the reality was, I fell asleep almost as soon as I got into bed.

Maybe it was the pitch-black darkness, or maybe deep down, I understood that nothing would ever happen between Fang Congxin and me.