A Round Trip to Love 1: LONG WAY HOME

Chapter Four

A common essay topic written by elementary school students is about a helpful student who shoulders the responsibility of taking care of another disadvantaged student before and after school, carrying the wounded/ injured on his back be it rain or shine.

Of course that one helpful student had to be Lu Feng.

At first, when he wanted to carry me on his back, I flatly refused. Spraining your ankle while ice-skating is not a glorious thing, so I did not want to draw attention to myself by laying proudly on his back for all to see. Lu Feng was far too tall; I would stand out no matter where he carried me.

But it was near the end of the term, and notes were of the utmost importance, so even if I had to crawl to class, I would do it. Immediately, Lu Feng took up the job and started transporting me around like a batch of cargo.

The distance between the dorm and the classroom block was not far, but there were plenty of stairs. Lu Feng, a young master used to be the one served upon, was rather rough with the way he carried me, usually throwing me harshly on the bed and making me cry out in pain or hitting the walls every time we turn at the stairways.

"Damn it, do you take me as a sandbag?"

I held in my tears as I counted the numerous bruises that had mysteriously appeared.

Lu Feng, who was in charge of applying the medicated oil for me, had just about touched every single spot on my body.

"My back was reserved for a ravishing beauty, you should count yourself lucky to be the first to have earned this honour."

"Hey, can you not judge others purely by their physical looks? Even though I'm no beauty, I am at least a man with intellectual beauty."

"Here, open your mouth." Lu Feng opened the lunchbox. My three meals were now bought by him.

"......" I avoided the spoon uncomfortably. "I didn't get a stroke, just sprained my ankle. Do you really need to feed me?"

"Stop being so long-winded. Open up."

"No!"

With his quick and firm actions, my jaws were helplessly pinched open as he sent the spoonful of rice straight into my mouth.

I know I am not eating elegantly, but you don't have to keep staring at my mouth.

I miserably finished my meal with his continuous feeding, and a bonus service of having my mouth wiped clean for me.

"..... Are you done cleaning?" My lips were burning, my skin feeling as if it would tear any second.

"There's still a little dirt here."

Just wipe it away, you're not short-sighted, there's no need for you to come so close.

When it was nearing the holidays, Lu Feng's desk had accumulated a pile of love letters.

"I really don't know what they see in you. With an honest man like me here, they still choose to fall for you." I was green with envy.

"You're jealous?"

For the umpteenth time, I casted him a resentful look.

"Have you never been confessed to by a girl?"

"That's expected," I huffed angrily, "I'm with you all day long. Your imposing figure has totally stolen the limelight away from me, so how would they see me? No, in the future, I'll have to keep my distance from you and stay far far away."

I was never one to stand out in the first place, but next to Lu Feng's glorious self had basically turned me invisible in the eyes of others.

"Don't you dare!" His voice was suddenly harsh.

Shocked, I quickly shook my head timidly, "Nope, of course not."

"Xiao Chen." Lu Feng sat beside me, habitually putting his arms around my shoulders. "You really want to have a girlfriend?"

"Of course..." Seeing his glare I quickly mumbled, "No..." I have not reached the age of puberty then, so I had no fantasies about the opposite sex. The wish to be popular to girls is simply a way of gratifying my own vanity.

"Let's make a promise, as long as I don't have a girlfriend, you can't fall for any girl either." It sounded like an fair deal, besides, it was a contract that had no legal implications. With Lu Feng attracting girls left and right without trying, and his lack of moral principles, there is an enormous chance a group of children would be surrounding him calling him "Daddy" before I even have the chance to touch the finger of a girl.

I nodded indifferently. Lu Feng smiled, crumpling the letters before throwing them into the bin without a second glance.