On the day the college entrance exam results were released, Class 3 held a celebration party. At the party, Shi Wenshu, who was usually gentle and steady, cried his heart out.
In the final sprint of senior year, Zhu Tong lived up to expectations by scoring over 700 points, achieving a high score of 708 in the exam. With such a score, even though the cut-off line wasn’t released yet, he was sure to get into the best university in the country, Q University1most likely Tsinghua University.
Gongshui No.1 High School had an unprecedented achievement this year with three students getting into Q University, a historic honor for the school.
What was even more astonishing was that all three were in the same class!
“Laoshi… is proud of you!” Shi Wenshu’s speech in the private room was firm and resounding.
Zhu Tong and Lu Zheyu, who were not very good with words, were at a loss as they watched Shi Wenshu cry his eyes out.
Shao Ming brought an empty wine glass, raised it in front of Shi Wenshu, and said, “Laoshi, I’ll take this as your graduation gift to us. Come on, let’s fill this glass, and I promise to keep it cold and preserved as a lifelong memento.”
Shi Wenshu: “…”
He immediately stopped crying.
Shi Wenshu laughed and scolded him a bit.
The atmosphere became cheerful again.
Tang Nuan was the first to come over and toast them, “Congratulations, you three top students.”
Lu Zheyu nodded and downed his drink in one gulp.
Zhu Tong wanted to follow suit, but his hand was suddenly grabbed, and his glass tilted. The already small amount of wine was then evenly divided into someone else’s glass. He righteously said, “Grandpa said you’re not allowed to drink much.”
Zhu Tong: “…”
“This is just beer.”
Shao Ming said, “Beer is not allowed either.”
Zhu Tong: “I am an adult now.”
Shao Ming: “Tell that to Grandpa.”
“……”
Tang Nuan clicked her tongue on the side, “Even bringing up parents now. When can we drink at your wedding banquet?”
Zhu Tong almost choked on his drink, “Cough, we… just graduated.”
Tang Nuan said, “Isn’t it soon? Just three years. You are nineteen now.”
Just three years shy of the legal marriage age.
“Speaking of this, you, Lu Lao’er, and Shao Ming are already nineteen, right?” A boy next to them chimed in, “You three are generally a year older than us. Did you secretly study for an extra year behind our backs?”
“Hahaha, with those superhuman scores, even if you said you repeated a year, people would believe it.”
Zhu Tong could only laugh dryly. It was indeed quite a coincidence.
He had to delay a year of schooling due to health reasons.
Lu Zheyu started school late due to financial difficulties in his village.
Shao Ming had it worse. His stepfather, who didn’t act like a human, initially didn’t even plan to let him go to school.
Even Xia Yang, who should have been in the same year as Shao Ming, had his birth date on his ID set a year later due to either Xia Weiyi’s intentional carelessness of incorrectly registering him.
They gathered at this school for various reasons.
“By the way,” Zou Ling suddenly leaned over, “I heard that Study God and Lu Lao’er have started a game studio together and are already taking on projects. You guys are too amazing, aren’t you?”
Shao Ming neither confirmed nor denied this, smiling, “Just something to pass the time.”
Zou Ling: “…You are too Versailles2having first-world problem.”
Shao Ming just smiled without saying anything.
Luo Suo came over, “Is that all?”
He said, then turned to look for someone, “Where’s Lu Lao’er?”
Zou Ling said, “I just saw him step out to take a call.”
Luo Suo: “Another call?”
“……”
This year in senior high, Lu Zheyu’s parents came to school countless times. Almost everyone in Class 3 knew that his parents had cut off his living expenses because they suspected he was slacking off.
For such matters, the others could only sigh and sigh again.
“I’ll go check on him.”
After Luo Suo went out, a few more subject teachers from Class 3 entered the private room. Although they weren’t the homeroom teachers, they also felt proud as their students had done well in the exams.
The room became even more lively.
Shao Ming’s usual social prowess backfired. The physics and chemistry teachers, both tipsy, kept pulling him into a debate about which subject was more useful in society.
Shao Ming tried to smooth things over by saying both were useful, but the two teachers teamed up against him, making him drink quite a bit.
Zhu Tong sat with the class monitor, chatting casually.
“What major are you planning to study?”
Zhu Tong looked at someone caught between the two teachers, listening to their argument with a completely unbothered expression, and casually replied, “Finance, I guess.”
“Finance?” Tang Nuan was surprised, “I thought you rich second-generation kids were rebellious and wouldn’t want to study finance.”
Zhu Tong said, “What’s rebellious about not studying finance? Winning at the starting line, studying well, and going back to inherit the family business — what’s wrong with that?”
Tang Nuan laughed, “Don’t they always show on TV that rich kids give up their billion-dollar inheritance to pursue true love and refuse to go back?”
Zhu Tong replied, “Did you see if they eventually went back?”
Tang Nuan: “…”
She burst out laughing, “So true, you see things clearly.”
Zhu Tong smiled without saying anything, his gaze always on Shao Ming.
He wasn’t seeing things more clearly; he was having his cake and eating it too.
Coincidentally, Shao Ming noticed his gaze and looked back at him. Despite classmates running around excitedly between them, it didn’t hinder their “silent communication.”
Curiosity got the better of Tang Nuan. She looked at Shao Ming, then leaned close to Zhu Tong and asked, “By the way, have you and Shao Ming done it yet?”
“!”
Zhu Tong’s pupils shook as he quickly turned his head.
Tang Nuan blinked innocently, her eyes sparkling with gossip.
Zhu Tong was stunned, “You…”
How did the class monitor casually ask such a shocking question?
“Weren’t you always telling us to be more restrained?”
Tang Nuan laughed, “That was at school, meant for Shao Ming. With his behavior, if I didn’t keep an eye on him, he could have eaten you up in the classroom. That would have ruined our class’s reputation. But now that we’ve graduated, I bet he can’t hold back anymore.”
Zhu Tong: “…”
The class monitor was quite bold.
He was speechless for a while, then stiffly shook his head.
Tang Nuan suddenly paused and said, “That’s bad.”
Zhu Tong: “…”
He couldn’t hold back and asked, “Why?”
Tang Nuan whispered, “I’ve heard that virgins who just started to eat meat are insatiable beasts. I suggest you go pull him back now. If he drinks too much, you won’t be able to get out of bed tomorrow.”
Zhu Tong: “…”
Where did she hear this from?
The class monitor’s outrageous words came one after another. Did she remember she was a girl?
Zhu Tong’s face turned red, but most of the people in the room were already red-faced from drinking, so his blush went unnoticed by others.
Except for Shao Ming.
Shao Ming finally escaped the two teachers and walked straight towards him.
The class monitor, who had just been spouting bold words, wisely gave Zhu Tong a look of “good luck” and slipped away with her champagne.
Zhu Tong: “…”
Shao Ming sat down next to Zhu Tong. Without saying a word, he cupped Zhu Tong’s face and pinched his earlobe.
This was a very suggestive action. When Shao Ming did this, it was either for a kiss or some cuddling when they were alone.
Zhu Tong glanced at the boisterous crowd in the room, his face reddening even more.
Shao Ming looked at him and said, “Boyfriend, whispering with someone right under my nose — can you smell the vinegar flooding from me?”
“……”
This guy’s vinegar could flood the Pacific every day, Zhu Tong was already used to it.
Zhu Tong said, “I wasn’t whispering.”
“Oh.” Shao Ming chuckled, leaning closer to his ear, “Then what did the class monitor say to make you blush so much?”
Zhu Tong subconsciously touched his face; the temperature was unusually high.
Thinking of what the class monitor said, his temperature wasn’t going down anytime soon.
He turned the tables and asked, “What the class monitor said isn’t important. What’s important is, on the day the exams ended, a girl called you out alone. What did she say?”
Shao Ming raised an eyebrow lightly, “You saw that?”
Zhu Tong said, “I didn’t see it. Luo Suo told me.”
Shao Ming: “…”
Their relationship was almost semi-public at school, but there were always a few who were blind and overly confident, secretly passing love letters to Shao Ming and boldly claiming, “I just want to express my feelings, not expecting a response from you…”
Zhu Tong: “…”
Such blatant audacity!
Shao Ming laughed softly, “Jealous?”
“…No.”
Shao Ming: “But I’m jealous too. Just a few days ago, someone traveled all the way from A City and piled a truckload of roses in the courtyard. Who was that for, huh?”
Zhu Tong: “…”
“That was… someone else’s foolishness.”
At that time, he had sprayed that person with disinfectant.
Shao Ming said, “So?”
“……”
So this kind of thing can’t be completely avoided!
Zhu Tong looked down and thought for a moment, then said, “When we get the acceptance letters, let’s have a graduation party.”
Shao Ming was caught off guard, “…What?”
Why did the topic suddenly jump to a graduation party? And why “we”?
Zhu Tong tilted his head and looked at him, “We’ve graduated now.”
Shao Ming: “…Yes.”
Realizing what Zhu Tong meant, Shao Ming’s heartbeat quickened.
They had graduated and could now make their relationship public, both at school and back in A City.
Moreover, they couldn’t rely on Grandpa’s protection forever.
Zhu Tong always had a goal to help his grandfather. After starting university, he could begin learning to handle company matters.
So the graduation party wouldn’t be just a simple celebration.
Zhu Tong didn’t say this directly.
Shao Ming looked at his smiling lips, slightly curved, eyes resting on his face.
His Adam’s apple moved slightly, and he suddenly leaned against Zhu Tong, whispering in his ear, “Little Young Master, we graduated.”
The deliberately lowered voice made Zhu Tong’s ears tingle.
Recalling what the class monitor had said earlier, he suddenly felt nervous.
“…Yes.”
Shao Ming continued, “Are you ready?”
“……”
They had tried it during their senior year, but they hadn’t gone all the way. Furthermore, Zhu Tong still couldn’t understand it.
–How could such a small hole be… penetrated?3creative liberty; I’m making this line more explicit.
He hesitated.
Shao Ming nuzzled his face again, “Is it okay?”
“…”
When speaking close to his face, Shao Ming carried a faint smell of alcohol.
At times like this, Zhu Tong would wonder why his grandfather forbade him from drinking but didn’t restrict Shao Ming.
The only rule: no getting drunk.
Apart from being out, he wasn’t allowed to touch a drop of alcohol at home.
Maybe it was because his previous health issues left a huge impression on everyone.
Smelling the alcohol on Shao Ming, Zhu Tong felt a bit tempted and bargained with him, “If you let me drink, I’ll agree.”
Shao Ming asked, “You want to drink that much?”
Zhu Tong nodded, “Yes.”
Shao Ming’s eyes darkened slightly, “Alright.”
Zhu Tong: “…”
So straightforward?
Zhu Tong had a gut feeling something was off, but before he could ask, Shao Ming buried his head in his neck, rubbing like a cat.
Zhu Tong felt ticklish from his nuzzling. The room was filled with classmates and teachers, and some were even secretly taking photos with their phones in the corner.
His body stiffened slightly, and he reminded, “Shi-laoshi can see us.”
Shao Ming said, “Mm, good.”
Zhu Tong: “…”
Seeing that he couldn’t relax, Shao Ming simply held him and coaxed, clinging to him entirely, saying, “I’m drunk, I can’t get up.”
“……”
This was indeed the perfect excuse.
Shao Ming wasn’t lying – he was a bit drunk but not to the point of being unable to stand.
Taking advantage of the alcohol, he clung to Zhu Tong. With Zhu Tong, the former sickly one, protecting them both, no one dared to force more drinks on them. They openly stayed close until the celebration ended.
Even when saying goodbye to the teachers, Shao Ming remained attached to Zhu Tong. Thankfully, Zhu Tong had been working out diligently over the past year. Otherwise, he would have collapsed before reaching the door.
As they walked to the entrance of the venue, they heard whispers.
“A Rolls-Royce? That’s a luxury car, right? Whose is it?”
“Who else but Zhu Tong?”
“Hey, Zhu Tong, is that your car? It’s super cool!”
“…”
Zhu Tong was taken aback.
He was never so ostentatious in the small town. Today, the car his driver used was very ordinary.
Just as he was about to say it wasn’t his, the Rolls-Royce’s window rolled down, and someone in the driver’s seat waved at him, “Tongtong, over here!”
Everyone immediately had a look of “I knew it.”
Zhu Tong: “…”
Zhu Tong nudged the “drunkard” hanging on him with his elbow and whispered, “Did you call him?”
Shao Ming leaned in and whispered, “No.”
“…”
Cheng Chen arrived uninvited, got out of the car, and warmly greeted Zhu Tong’s classmates with a friendly and gentle demeanor.
A girl quietly asked Zhu Tong, “Who is he?”
Zhu Tong introduced, “He’s my cousin.”
“No wonder, birds of a feather flock together.”
“Your cousin is so handsome!”
“……”
Already, some girls were covering their mouths, starry-eyed with infatuation.
Fortunately, everyone was mindful of the public setting and didn’t linger at the entrance, causing a crowd. Soon, they all dispersed.
Zhu Tong looked at the person still smiling and waving at his classmates and asked, “Why are you here?”
Cheng Chen replied matter-of-factly, “To pick up my dear cousin and take him home.”
Zhu Tong looked skeptical.
At that moment, Shao Ming straightened up, glanced behind them, and said, “Lao Er is behind us, he should be out soon.”
Cheng Chen: “…”
Though they never asked, it didn’t mean they were blind.
Since entering senior year, they had “coincidentally” run into Zhu Tong’s cousin several times while they were out with Lu Zheyu.
Cheng Chen coughed, hesitating whether to deny it, but then someone walked out of the venue.
Luo Suo and Lu Zheyu walked together, the former looking incredulous, “Your parents want you back this late? Isn’t there still a muddy road to your place? Won’t it be dangerous walking back at night?”
Lu Zheyu responded indifferently, “I’m familiar with the road, it’s fine.”
Just as he finished speaking, he noticed the three people standing at the entrance.
Luo Suo exclaimed, “You’re still here… Oh, cousin? Here to pick up Zhu Tong again?”
“…”
None of the three spoke.
Lu Zheyu hesitated for a moment, then walked around them, saying, “I’m heading home.”
Cheng Chen momentarily looked like he wanted to say something but stayed rooted in place.
After a moment, he asked Luo Suo, “Where’s he going?”
Luo Suo replied, “Oh, he’s going home.”
Cheng Chen looked in the direction Lu Zheyu left.
Standing close, Zhu Tong heard him mutter, “Walking on a muddy road, not afraid of falling into a pit.”
Zhu Tong：“……”
He decisively pulled Shao Ming and turned around, “Let’s go too. The homestay isn’t far from here. We can walk back. No need for you to drive us.”
Cheng Chen: “…”
In the end, the Rolls-Royce drove away ostentatiously.
Zhu Tong and Shao Ming didn’t ask anything and headed straight back to the homestay.
After a noisy evening, it was finally quiet in the room.
But silence had its own drawbacks. For example, when getting water, hearing the sound of running water from the bathroom hinted at what might happen next, making one naturally tense.
When Shao Ming came in, he had a bottle of cocktail in his hand.
Seeing him “keeping his word,” Zhu Tong couldn’t help but find it amusing and teased, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell my grandpa?”
Shao Ming actually agreed to let him drink for that reason.
“The cocktail’s alcohol content isn’t high.” Shao Ming sat down beside him, leaned close to his face, and smiled, “And do you know why I didn’t bring a glass?”
Zhu Tong instinctively looked at his hands.
There was nothing but a bottle of cocktail.
Shao Ming skillfully opened the bottle cap, took a sip, and when Zhu Tong’s mouth slightly opened in surprise, he cupped the back of his head and pressed his lips over.
The cocktail was transferred into Zhu Tong’s mouth in this special way.
The cocktail tasted refreshing, slightly sweet and bitter, with a faint alcohol taste and a strong fruit aroma… But before he could savor it, his throat involuntarily moved, swallowing the drink, and it was replaced by something else.
When Shao Ming pulled back, he licked Zhu Tong’s lips and softly asked, “So, do you want to tell your grandpa how I let you drink?”
Zhu Tong：“……”
Seeing him silent, Shao Ming wiped the corner of his mouth. “Scared?”
Zhu Tong shook his head, lips pursed slightly, tasting the lingering flavor in his mouth. “Give me a bit more.”
Shao Ming: “…”
A bottle of cocktail isn’t much, but for someone who rarely drinks, drinking half of it at once has quite an effect.
Forced to lie down on the bed, the figure in front of Zhu Tong seemed to blur. He touched Shao Ming’s face and admitted honestly, “I feel a bit dizzy.”
“…”
Shao Ming looked down at him, planting a kiss on his lips with the same flavor, and chuckled softly. “Do you know why I didn’t let you drink?”
Zhu Tong: “…”
Now he knew.
It turned out that alcohol tolerance had nothing to do with physical fitness – he was still a lightweight.
Feeling a bit dizzy, Zhu Tong raised his hand and embraced Shao Ming’s neck.
Shao Ming’s breath was warm as he took out two things from the bedside table.
Zhu Tong followed his movements, feeling a warm sensation in his ears.
Shao Ming kissed his earlobe and whispered softly, “Can we really do this?”
Perhaps emboldened by alcohol, Zhu Tong glanced at the items in Shao Ming’s hand, took his hand initiative, and impulsively bit down on his slightly prominent Adam’s apple.
Shao Ming shuddered all over, his rationality overwhelmed.
They had attempted the preceding steps many times before, so Shao Ming was fairly experienced.
However, Zhu Tong seemed unprepared for what followed.
Initially, all he felt was pain and heat.
Gradually, perhaps due to Shao Ming’s soothing voice, Zhu Tong forced himself to relax. It might also have been the allure of Shao Ming’s beauty that made him gradually feel less pain.
Shao Ming had always had a great physique, with evenly distributed muscles and explosive strength, which Zhu Tong had always admired.
Despite exercising regularly in his senior year, Zhu Tong couldn’t achieve Shao Ming’s physique.
His skin was pale and cold, his abdominal lines tight and flat, muscular but not bulky. Now lying on the bed, his crimson face buried in the pillow, sometimes biting his lip and sometimes furrowing his brow, his restrained voice was almost unbearable.
Lowering his head, Shao Ming kissed him passionately, firmly keeping him in his embrace.
Zhu Tong’s consciousness became hazy – apart from the young man kissing him, he could no longer feel anything else.
