Chapter 46: Exclusive to Jinjiang  1/2

Song Fuzhi’s fingers tightened, but he couldn’t move.

Five fingers were held by the other hot palm.

“I’m back.” Shi Zhang lowered his eyes, unable to see the emotions in his eyes.

The breath was close, and the two locked eyes. Song Fuzhi finally confirmed that he wasn’t in a dream and that he wasn’t drunk.

A violent blankness filled his mind, and Song Fuzhi’s first reaction was, “It’s over.”

How could he be caught by Shi Zhang at this exact moment?

Song Fuzhi silently gasped for breath, wearing only half of a shoulder robe. However, Professor Shi was neatly dressed in a shirt, all buttons fastened to the top, sitting on the edge of the bed, exuding a faint floral fragrance.

“Why are you so anxious, Fuzhi?” Shi Zhang’s eyes at this moment were deep and unreadable, giving Song Fuzhi a sense of unpredictable danger.

“I can’t wait for even one more day.”

“Aren’t you supposed to come back tomorrow?”

Song Fuzhi’s voice was hoarse, with embarrassment and grievance in his tone.

“I finished what I had to do, so I came back.”

Shi Zhang lowered his head and rubbed Song Fuzhi’s hair with the tip of his nose, as if it were a comforting gesture.

“It seems like Professor Song really wanted me to come back.”

Song Fuzhi’s eyes were misted, staring at him. “Shi Zhang, you’ve been away for two weeks. Do you think I don’t want you to come back?”

This statement was very direct, without any concealment, and openly presented to Shi Zhang.

With a bang, Shi Zhang’s old heart shattered instantly.

Shi Zhang pressed Song Fuzhi onto the headboard and kissed him fiercely, not releasing him until after a while.

“We originally planned to come back tomorrow morning, but I caught the last flight tonight.”

He ground his teeth between words, “Because I couldn’t wait a moment longer and really wanted to see you. But I didn’t expect… you calling my name.”

Song Fuzhi, embarrassed and annoyed, told him to stop.

Following the rules like a botanist, Song Fuzhi felt like a crumpled branch, pressed in the palm of Shi Zhang, gradually unfolding, becoming a specimen.

Song Fuzhi frowned slightly, reaching to pull at the shirt on Shi Zhang’s abdomen and say, “Be fair.”

One, because of his face, and two, because subconsciously, he still cared about something; he wanted to observe Shi Zhang’s body again.

Shi Zhang let Song Fuzhi unbutton him, casually pulling out a long-stemmed lily from a nearby bouquet. The petals were pure white, fully open, and the red pollen on the stamen trembled lightly.

The professor guided Song Fuzhi’s hands to grip the deep green stem.

“Fuzhi, you didn’t fulfill the promise from last time, so let’s make a new one this time.”

Shi Zhang’s voice spilled into Song Fuzhi’s ears, igniting a dense cluster of tiny bumps.

“Hold on to this flower all night, can you?”

In reality, no matter what is said verbally, it doesn’t hold much weight; this isn’t a contract written in black and white.

Having an adult’s hands continuously placed on a flower with no external force or pressure depends entirely on the individual’s will.

If he really didn’t want to, he could just let go.

But Song Fuzhi remained silent for a moment, then extended his fingertips to grasp the lily.

In his line of sight were only his hands and a pristine white lily.

Then, the mattress on both sides of his shoulders suddenly sank, and the hands of a mature man propped beside Song Fuzhi’s body, veins on the back of his hand prominently visible, and a golden ring sparkling.

*

There were a total of five lilies at the head of the bed; now, only one remained intact, and tiny flower petals covered half the bed.

Crimson pollen stained their fingertips. Song Fuzhi lay on his side in Shi Zhang’s embrace, breathing deeply in exhaustion, not even bothering to lift a finger.

Shi Zhang, trying to please, kissed the skin behind Song Fuzhi’s ear, massaging his lower back with his broad hand. Suddenly, Song Fuzhi grabbed his wrist.

Without even turning his head, Song Fuzhi, in a soft voice, pleaded, “Don’t touch.”

Shi Zhang withdrew his hand, nuzzling the side of Song Fuzhi’s neck with his nose. “What’s wrong?”

Song Fuzhi twisted his waist, turning to face Shi Zhang, both breathing rapidly.

He smiled. “Professor, spare me; you’ve gone too far.”

He felt laughter emanating from the professor’s chest, causing a fine ripple in the air.

Shi Zhang let go after holding Song Fuzhi for a while, got out of bed barefoot, tidied up, and then walked into the bathroom, where the sound of rushing water could be heard.

Song Fuzhi closed his eyes to rest, hearing Shi Zhang softly ask in his ear, “Shall I carry you into the shower?”

“No need.” Song Fuzhi opened his eyes to look at him, smiling gently.

He wasn’t so fragile that, after just once, he couldn’t walk and needed to be carried.

Song Fuzhi got up, suddenly feeling unexpected muscle soreness, and couldn’t help but emit a soft “hiss.”

It seems like he spoke too soon.

Shi Zhang opened his arms, leaning down, his lips curving. “Come on.”

Song Fuzhi lifted his face, about to extend his arm, but his gaze froze.

His face turned pale in an instant.

Forgetting the previous hours of joy and the term “Professor Octopus,” everything made way for this scar.

Once these words came out of Song Fuzhi’s mouth, Shi Zhang remembered.

He looked at it, and indeed, blood had seeped from the wound on his hand at some point.

“A minor incident, just a little carelessness in the wilderness…”

Song Fuzhi took a sharp breath, finding it hard to believe, and asked softly, “In the wilderness? When did you get this?”

Shi Zhang pursed his lips, sighed, and explained briefly, “On the last day of field research, a student accidentally rolled down a slope, and I instinctively protected him.”

Seeing Song Fuzhi’s darkening expression, Shi Zhang hurriedly added, “I went to the hospital the next day; the doctor said it’s nothing serious; just leave it to heal on its own.”

Song Fuzhi’s face grew colder, silent for a while, then pointed to the edge of the bed and said, “Sit.”

This tone was reminiscent of that of a class teacher.

Shi Zhang obediently sat down, his head slightly lowered, as if he knew he had done something wrong.

Song Fuzhi asked, “So, you stayed outside for an extra day to go to the hospital for the wound?”

After hesitating for a moment, Shi Zhang nodded. “I was afraid it might get infected, but the doctor said it’s completely fine.”

Song Fuzhi scowled, “You, you just came in from behind.”

Is it that you didn’t want me to see the injured arm?

“No.” Shi Zhang interrupted him, eyes widening, and spoke frankly, “It’s more appropriate this way.”