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|| “I need a kiss and a hug from Yan-gege before I can get up.”
When Xia Zhiye’s pierced ears were healed enough to be replaced with new earrings, it happened to be the end of the winter vacation.
The two spent almost half of their entire vacation in Beijing. They returned to Nanwu just before Song Minghai went home.
As the time approached the beginning of spring, unlike the cold and dry early spring in the north accompanied by biting winds and snow, this humid and warm southern city had once again begun to experience the endless drizzle of spring rain.
The old bluestone pavement of Wine Alley sprouted numerous tender green mosses, slippery yet sticky, to the extent that when Grandma Liu returned from her hometown with Little Mahjong in tow, she had to tread extremely cautiously with each step.
Thanks to the help of Song Lele’s Grandma and Aunt Tan, the spring clothes bought by the two big boys for Grandma Liu and Little Mahjong this time have reached an unprecedented height in terms of quality and aesthetics. Both of them were very happy to wear them.
Grandma Liu tidied her new clothes, seemingly filled with emotion: “I am truly blessed to have your parents as neighbors and to have such a filial grandson like you. Now, with the addition of Xiao Song, it’s really a sign of God’s blessings.”
Xia Zhiye lazily reclined on the lounge chair, a lollipop dangling from his mouth as he chuckled, “My grandfather said that all the old alleys in this area are going to be demolished. Your good fortune is still ahead of you.”
“Really?”
Grandma Liu turned her head back with a look of disbelief.
Xia Zhiye took the lollipop from his mouth and held it between his fingertips, swaying it back and forth. “Seriously, probably next year or the year after that. By then, we’ll probably be able to get two apartment units.”
Living in an elevator apartment would definitely be more convenient in terms of electricity and water usage. Plus, there’s property management, so there will be someone to look after the elderly Grandma Liu and Little Mahjong even if they live alone. When he and Song Yan go to university in another city in the future, they can feel more at ease.
Moreover, by living in one apartment and renting out another, they can have a fixed income of an extra two to three thousand yuan every month, making their lives much more comfortable.
For the elderly Grandma Liu who had lived in this narrow alley for almost half of her live, it was both good news and somewhat bittersweet.
“It’s just a pity for these osmanthus trees.”
Grandma Liu looked out at the evergreen osmanthus tree outside the window and let out a long sigh. “The osmanthus is blooming this year. I’ll brew some osmanthus wine for you two. Keep it well and save it for when you and Xiao Song are taking the college entrance exams.”
Xia Zhiye thought for a moment about Song Yan’s low alcohol tolerance. He couldn’t help but laugh. “Grandma, are you trying to make Song Yan repeat a year by giving him so much wine?”
After saying that, Song Yan gave him a stink eye.
Grandma Liu also scolded him, “Tsk tsk tsk, what nonsense are you blabbering about, child? Before the college entrance examination, we’ll have a banquet and serve the osmanthus wine. It’s called “achieving success in the Imperial Examinations”, and it’s a good omen. Do you understand?”
“Alright, alright, it’s a good omen. Comrade Liu Guifen is truly knowledgeable.” Xia Zhiye solemnly raised his thumb in commendation.
He felt that Comrade Liu Guifen had come up with a brilliant idea.
The charming and easily fooled appearance of Song Yan when he’s drunk was simply too endearing, so even if he couldn’t drink before the college entrance examination, he could still be tricked into drinking more after the exam.
By then, Song Yan will also be an adult, and he wouldn’t have to be like Liuxia Hui anymore. Upgrading his “service” from 180 yuan to 360 yuan is definitely not out of the question.
Achieving top scores in Imperial Examinations, and enjoying the wedding night in the bridal chamber… Two out of four joys in life in one go? This can be considered perfect1this is from a… saying of sorts? XZY is referring to College Entrance Exams, but he phrased it like the four joys in life from the olde times.
Seeing Xia Zhiye’s mischievous expression, Song Yan knew that he was up to no good again. Ignoring him, he took out his phone and checked the constant notifications. It turned out that Kong Xiaoxiao had created a new group chat at some point.
[Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai 2.0 (18)]
[Society’s Kong-jie]: Everyone pay attention! Tomorrow on March 1st is the start of classes, and on the 5th, we have the school anniversary performance. So tonight at 6 PM., everyone needs to be at the school for rehearsal. Also, I want to try on the new costumes I rented to see if they fit. If they don’t fit, let me know early so I can exchange them. Got it?
[Society’s Kong-jie]: Oh, and remember to wear the school uniform. Liu Deqing said that representatives of outstanding alumni from previous years will also come today to run through the process in advance. So everyone, keep up with the school regulations and appearance early. Otherwise, the security won’t let you in.
[Society’s Kong-jie]: Please reply.
The remaining fifteen people have already replied, only Song Yan and Xia Zhiye haven’t.
In another five-person group chat, Kong Xiaoxiao directly @’d these two people.
[Society’s Kong-jie]: What about Yan-ge and Ye-ge? I’m afraid they might have blocked the previous group chat. I specifically created this new group, but why can’t I see them?
[Don’t Procrastinate]: If one is gone, isn’t that the same as both being gone? Not even conjoined twins are as sticky as those two.
[Society’s Kong-jie]: Is that possible? Even during holidays, they’re still stuck together?
[Study Committee Only Loves Studying]: Xiao-jie, have you heard this poem that can describe the two of them?
[Society’s Kong-jie]: ?
[Study Committee Only Loves Studying]: “Now the mountains have no edges; now the heavens and earth are united; yet I dare not part with you.2og: 山无棱，天地合，乃敢与君绝。“
[Society’s Kong-jie]:…
[Society’s Kong-jie]: You are right.
[Society’s Kong-jie]: So, which one of you are going to DM them? They are the protagonists, and today they must try on clothes first.
[Don’t Procrastinate]: Aren’t we going to rent from the same costume shop as the last one?
[Society’s Kong-jie]: No, that store closed down.
[Don’t Procrastinate]: Oh, who will DM them then?
[Study Committee Only Loves Studying]: Indeed, who will?
[Don’t Procrastinate]: It’s currently broad daylight, I’m a bit hesitant to disturb them, afraid of being assassinated.
[Study Committee Only Loves Studying]: Me too +13all of his “Me too” reply are in English
[Don’t Procrastinate]: Of course, I dare not even at night.
[Study Committee Only Loves Studying]: Me too +2
[Don’t Procrastinate]: Thinking about living like this for another year and a half, being fed dog food like this everyday… such a miserable existence we will lead.
[Study Committee Only Loves Studying]: Me too +3
[Don’t Procrastinate]: Whatever shall we do, ah?
[Study Committee Only Loves Studying]: No worries, anyway, in the script Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai have already had a BE4Bad Ending / tragic end due to parental obstruction. When the time comes, I’ll make the ending even more tragic, make them cry to death, to avenge the dog food we’ve been force-fed.
[Don’t Procrastinate]: Good idea.
Seeing their topic of discussion was becoming more and more abnormal, Song Yan quickly replied in the large group: [Received]
He got a reply within seconds.
[Don’t Procrastinate]: OK, that person is here
[YAN]: ? Isn’t there Xia Zhiye left?
[Don’t Procrastinate]: What is the difference between you replying and him?
[Study Committee Only Loves Studying]: I bet he is no more than two meters from where you’re at.
Song Yan glanced at Xia Zhiye, who was eating a lollipop in a place where he could reach by raising his arm: “…”
Is he and Xia Zhiye always so sticky like this?
Are these people exaggerating?
He must prove that he and Xia Zhiye are two mature and independent individuals.
So, after checking the time, he pocketed his phone, slipped the school uniform under his coat, grabbed an umbrella, and said, “I’ll head to the school first. You come in half an hour.”
Xia Zhiye: “?”
“See the groupchat for the context yourself.”
With a cold tone, Song Yan dropped these words and then turned away, holding the umbrella, and walked into the continuous and desolate spring rain in the grayish-blue alley alone.
Left alone, Xia Zhiye leaned back on the recliner, took out his phone, glanced at the chat history, and then smiled as he crushed the last bit of mint-flavored lollipop in his mouth.
Hey, it’s only natural for newlywed husbands to be so sticky.
This group of single dogs was just jealous of them and sowing discord.
Getting Song Yan left outside his two meters radius? Impossible.
With that in mind, he grabbed the school uniform jacket from the back of the chair, took long strides, caught up with him, and sheltered under Song Yan’s umbrella. He wrapped his arm around Song Yan’s shoulder and smiled, saying, “That won’t do. I can’t bear the ‘lovesickness for my boyfriend’ I’ll get if we get separated by a whole half hour.”
‘The fuck you mean by lovesickness??’
If it weren’t for the rather heavy rain outside, Song Yan would have probably kicked Xia Zhiye away with one foot by now. He frowned and said disdainfully, “Get off, stop being so clingy.”
“Tsk, in Beijing, someone was clingy with me every day, who could that be? But as soon as we return to Nanwu, you don’t acknowledge it? Are you tired of me? Don’t want to be with me anymore? Planning to be heartless, ungrateful, and unreasonable?” Xia Zhiye playfully teased, mimicking a melodramatic tone.
“Sigh, I’m tired of it. Tired to the point that I don’t want to be clingy with you for another year or so. So, could you please take your dirty paws out of my coat collar?” Song Yan replied calmly, devoid of emotion.
Just as he finished saying that, there was a sudden deafening “boom”, like thunder from the dark sky, startling even the cold and aloof Song Yan. Instinctively, he stepped back and found himself drawn into the embrace of Xia Zhiye.
Watching the suddenly startled Song Daxi in his arms, who was afraid of darkness, ghosts, and thunder, Xia Zhiye couldn’t help but chuckle softly and said, “See, telling lies will get you struck by lightning. Look, when I said ‘I love Song Daxi’, the heavens didn’t react.”
Reacting to his outburst, Song Yan hastily stood up straight again and coldly said, “It’s just a coincidence.”
“Then say it again.”
“I’m tired of it. Tired to the point that I don’t want to be clingy with Xia Zhiye for another year or so.”
“Rumble Rumble—”
The thunder roared again, this time twice as loud as before.
Xia Zhiye laughed and wrapped his arms around Song Yan, who had once again instinctively catapulted into his arms, and laughed in a low voice, “That’s why some words can’t be said indiscriminately, the heavens have ears everywhere. But how come our Yan-ge is so afraid of everything, so fragile?”
Actually, Song Yan didn’t fully hear what Xia Zhiye said in the first half. But when he heard his last sentence, he elbowed Xia Zhiye in anger. “You are fragile! Your whole family is fragile!”
Xia Zhiye took advantage of this situation and put his arms around Song Yan. He successfully paralyzed the shorter youth. “Uh-huh, I’m really so fragile, I can’t stand up after being hit by you for a while. I need a kiss and a hug from Yan-gege before I can get up~”
“Xia Zhiye! Can you stop being so shameless!”
“Oh, I can’t help it, I’m too fragile, I can’t stand still. Yan-ge, come and give me a hug.”
“Shut up!”
“Yan-ge, I’m thirsty, I want to drink the milk tea you bought for me.”
“Go away. Nothing for you.”
“Then I’ll treat you to a drink.”
The two of them, one laughing and the other scolding, appeared in the old street of the school, embracing and playing around as they chased each other.
They thought it would be like every other time they walked down this old street, with their usual banter, laughter, and occasional arguments, repeating endlessly. They enjoyed it, carrying with them a vitality and undeniable joy.
The vendors and shopkeepers on both sides of the old street were already accustomed to the conspicuous figures of these two young men, who were always together. They lay under their umbrellas, listening to the rain, sipping their tea, and thinking to themselves, “Ah, to be young again.” They eagerly awaited tomorrow morning, eager to see this familiar and beautiful sight once more.
However, no one could have imagined that this would be the last time they would see these two youths walking together in their school uniforms down the narrow and deep-scented alley of Wine Lane, or laughing together as they strolled through the crowded, old, and bustling streets.
It wasn’t until they stopped in front of the milk tea shop across the street, folded their umbrellas, and looked up with a smile that they saw the familiar Maybach and Bentley parked at the school gate, at which point all smiles vanished in an instant.
Song Minghai and Elder Xia were standing in front of the school gate, accompanied by Liu Deqing, watching them across the narrow street.
They looked at their hands, laced like lovers.
They looked at the matching bracelets on their wrists.
They looked at the earrings on their earlobes. Truly like a happy couple.
With stern countenances, indifferent gazes, clad in suits and leather shoes, they stood tall and aloof.
It was as if the high and mighty wielder of life and death was scrutinizing the erring lambs, not granting them the right to defend themselves.
Just silently scrutinizing, until another spring thunder broke the dark calm of the old street from afar.
Song Minghai said coldly, “Director Liu, I plan to transfer Song Yan back to Beijing. I hope the procedures can be completed in two days.”
A calm and indifferent sentence – no emotion, no room for refutation.
And as he faced that gaze, Song Yan tightened his grip on Xia Zhiye’s hand like never before.
The author has something to say:
It’s just the flow of time, then they’ll reach adulthood, and then they’ll start loving each other without any hesitation or embarrassment! So don’t panic! No panicking allowed!!
