Chapter 27: Exclusive to Jinjiang 2/2

Shaking his head, Song Fuzhi admitted, “I don’t know.”

“It’s a locust tree.” Shi Zhang quickly provided the answer. “According to legend, the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl made a marriage vow under a thousand-year locust tree, hence the saying ‘the ancient locust tree as a matchmaker.’ This is the oldest and most luxuriant locust tree on our campus. Many graduates take wedding photos under this tree.”

The professor spoke in a slow and measured tone, sounding as serious as if he were lecturing.

Song Fuzhi blinked, and his heartbeat inadvertently quickened.

He hesitantly asked, “So, who is the Cowherd, and who is the Weaver Girl among us?”

Shi Zhang didn’t answer directly but instead said, “We didn’t have a wedding ceremony, so there was no ritual in front of the guests.”

Song Fuzhi asked, “Do you regret it? We can have a ceremony now.”

“Right now?” Shi Zhang took a half-step forward, and his nose gently brushed against the tips of Song Fuzhi’s hair. “Is it okay?”

“I haven’t kissed my husband yet.” Song Fuzhi’s back shivered, and he looked at Professor Shi’s eyes, which were no longer as calm.

“All your students, my students, and the teachers, the director… they’re over there,” Song Fuzhi reminded him.

Shi Zhang spoke softly, “Let them witness.”

The professor continued, “Water vapor evaporates from all around the world, perhaps from rivers in the Americas, perhaps from someone’s swimming pool, perhaps from the leaves of a certain tree. The pouring rain and this hundred-year-old tree have traveled through countless spaces and times, and at this moment, they are all witnesses to us.”

Song Fuzhi’s throat trembled, lost in the professor’s voice. The rain continued to pour, creating a mist of dampness, and the air was filled with the scent of plants.

Shi Zhang lowered his head slightly, closing the distance. “Do you mind if I kiss you?”

Professor Shi’s usual aura suddenly changed. His words were unusually straightforward, making Song Fuzhi subconsciously take a step back.

His lips parted, but he couldn’t utter a word.

Retreating a bit, Shi Zhang also stopped in place.

In just a few seconds, Professor Shi returned to his usual gentleness.

In that gentleness, there was a hint of helplessness. Shi Zhang softly asked, “Do you mind?”

He easily read Song Fuzhi’s subtle resistance through his eyes and movements.

Shi Zhang said, “Then let’s find another place.”

He lowered his head, directly biting a small piece of skin under Song Fuzhi’s collarbone.

The action was surprisingly refined, like an aristocrat savoring a delicacy with lowered eyes.

However, the force was far from refined.

After tightening the teeth, the air was sucked dry.

as if trying to bite through the skin.

Song Fuzhi’s scalp exploded, and he pushed against Shi Zhang’s abdomen, but the muscle beneath his palm seemed unyielding.

In a panic, Song Fuzhi grabbed Shi Zhang’s clothes and pulled him away, his voice trembling as he used crude language: “Damn it! Don’t bite.”

The teeth loosened, leaving a fresh red circle.

Song Fuzhi’s chest heaved, his breath heavy. “Not clean, with rainwater and sweat…”

Shi Zhang, also breathing heavily, eyes reddened, laughed after a while, “Did you break it just because it’s not clean?”

Song Fuzhi frowned, trying not to answer.

“Shi Zhang.” Song Fuzhi also called him by his given name. “If you want to kiss, just kiss properly. Don’t bite.”

“Okay.” Shi Zhang obediently responded, but he seemed to have lost interest in kissing. His posture straightened, and he moved away.

Shi Zhang asked, “Afraid of pain?”

Talking about a wedding ceremony and then avoiding a simple kiss, it seemed like he was asking random and pointless questions.

The atmosphere had already been brought to this point, and Song Fuzhi couldn’t endure it any longer. With one hand, he grabbed Shi Zhang’s neck, pulled him close, and forcefully sealed his lips.

In that moment, the pulse under his palm suddenly accelerated.

Shi Zhang’s lips were scorching hot.

The professor, who had just threatened to bite, now remained still, frozen. It felt as if time had stopped.

Shi Zhang’s eyes trembled, allowing Song Fuzhi to press his lips against his. The raindrops fell like pearls, and not far away, the laughter and complaints of the children could be faintly heard, along with the teachers discussing the arrangements after making phone calls.

Despite the myriad of noises circling closer and farther away, there was only the other person’s breathing that could be distinctly heard.

Opening his eyes slightly, all Song Fuzhi could see was the other person, with eyes as trembling as his own.

The branches and leaves hid their closely pressed figures, only separated by a rain shower, ten steps away from students and teachers.

If someone ran through the rain, they might see them kissing.

The branches swayed, and the sound of the kiss was faint.

Song Fuzhi kissed for two seconds, and when he pulled away, his ears and neck were completely red.

He had never done such a bold thing before.

taking the initiative to kiss a man.

Shi Zhang wasn’t much better off; his eyes were completely red, his chest was rising and falling, and his breathing was chaotic.

 The two of them looked at each other with red eyes, silent.

Like a bizarre dream suddenly awakening, the rain gradually stopped, and the sky brightened. The dark clouds rapidly retreated on both sides, allowing bright sunlight to break through and spread across the land.

“The rain has stopped! It’s clear now!”

The children cheered, folded their umbrellas, and chattered like little sparrows as they flew out from under the tree.

“Mr. Song, let’s head back!” Mr. Zhou shouted with a loud voice.

Under the lush locust tree, the high school teacher and the university professor emerged one after another, keeping a considerable distance between them.

Professor Shi directly went to the other side, gathering the college students to return to the dormitories.

Usually composed, Professor Shi’s ears were unexpectedly tinged with a bit of red. Fortunately, the students were not as tall as him, so even if they saw it, they didn’t dare to ask.

Song Fuzhi, without turning back, walked into the high school classroom. Director Wu noticed he was soaked and exclaimed, advising him to quickly change clothes.

Song Fuzhi replied, “It’s okay. The clothes will dry quickly.”

“Professor Song seems to be quite favored by Professor Shi. He even took you to hide behind the big tree,” Mr. Zhou joked.

Song Fuzhi, without changing his expression, said, “We were close to that tree at the time, and there was no one under the tree. We wouldn’t intrude on your position.”

“I see, I see! I can tell!” Mr. Zhou laughed heartily, then suddenly stopped, his brows gradually furrowing.

He scrutinized Song Fuzhi for a while, then said, “Teacher Song, did you get bitten by bugs, or are you allergic to pollen? The back of your neck is all red.”

Song Fuzhi’s expression remained calm as he replied, “It shouldn’t be.”

Concerned, Mr. Zhou asked, “Are you okay?”

Song Fuzhi shook his head and discreetly adjusted his collar.

The clothes covered the bite marks on his collarbone, but they couldn’t conceal the lingering excitement that was hard to dissipate.