Chapter 65: Exclusive on Jinjiang 2/2

In a few days, it will be Shi Zhang’s birthday. Song Fuzhi could feel that this event had some impact on him, perhaps a positive one, as if he had finally shed an invisible shell.

These days, Song Fuzhi had been helping Shi Zhang relax, and the two were almost inseparable.

Occasionally, Shi Zhang would show a sense of detachment and floating, but when Song Fuzhi patted him, Shi Zhang immediately returned to his usual self.

Making Song Fuzhi think he might have had a misconception.

At the moment when Shi Zhang’s birthday arrived, the two lay in bed. Song Fuzhi, lying close, whispered in his ear, “Happy birthday, Professor Shi.”

“Thirty-six, right?” Song Fuzhi teased. “Old Uncle.”

Shi Zhang asked, “Am I old?”

Song Fuzhi tilted his head and casually said, “Old, indeed!”

“Young brat.”

With a playful smile, Shi Zhang dropped this term of endearment into Song Fuzhi’s ear, inexplicably making him feel heated.

The man’s Adam’s apple trembled, and he pressed down Song Fuzhi’s wet kiss, his hand controlling his neck.

On this night, the two of them tacitly refrained from going further. They stopped just before things got too heated.

It was difficult to resist, but it had to be done.

Song Fuzhi thought there was still a tough battle to fight during the day, two meals, and then a surprise at night. If their waists were ruined now, how would they play the next day?

Shi Zhang thought that tomorrow was Song Fuzhi’s birthday, with no one to disturb them. They could have a cozy dinner date in their own world, playing until whenever they wanted. Sneaking away now wouldn’t be fun.

The warm morning sun bathed the two, and Song Fuzhi smiled, wishing him a happy birthday again. He reached out and playfully pinched Shi Zhang’s tailbone, affectionately saying, “A long tail has grown.”

This was a birthday saying. When Song Fuzhi celebrated his birthday, his parents would say he had “grown a long tail.”

Shi Zhang laughed. Not to be outdone, he reached back to rub Song Fuzhi’s arm and said, “Tomorrow it will be your turn to grow a tail.”

Early in the morning, gradually, Professor Shi’s hands became a bit restless, moving down slowly, palms rubbing and releasing, occasionally giving a light pat.

Song Fuzhi, eager and embarrassed, pinched Shi Zhang’s arm and said, “Don’t touch recklessly.”

In the afternoon, they went out to have lunch with their parents, followed by an evening gathering with friends. It was estimated that they wouldn’t be home until late at night.

Even if Luo Luli could help lure Shi Zhang out, the time would probably only be enough for adjusting the casting equipment.

To take out all the leaves, the safest time is in the early morning.

Shi Zhang hummed a song while brushing his teeth, and Song Fuzhi couldn’t leave.

Song Fuzhi had been sneakily trying to find time to slip into the study, but Shi Zhang was always in a position that made it difficult to succeed.

In the end, after dragging it until almost time to leave, Song Fuzhi still couldn’t succeed.

Although Teacher Song seemed calm on the surface, he was anxious inside.

Shi Zhang was unaware of this and picked up the car keys, saying, “Shall we go? We should leave now; otherwise, Mom and Dad will be waiting.”

Song Fuzhi was stiffly led out by Shi Zhang, watching him press the elevator button and feeling a sense of despair.

As the two entered the elevator, just as the doors were about to close, Song Fuzhi quickly ran out, speaking rapidly to Shi Zhang, “I suddenly remembered I forgot something; you go down and start the car; I’ll find you on the roadside!”

Shi Zhang probably didn’t expect Song Fuzhi’s action to be so sudden and only managed to respond with a hesitant “Hmm” before the elevator doors closed between them.

Song Fuzhi watched as the elevator numbers went down one floor, then hurried back into the room.

After unlocking the door in seconds, without even changing his shoes, Song Fuzhi entered the study and opened the bottom drawer directly.

He took out several photo books and carefully removed the fragile leaves from between the pages.

He clipped dozens of leaves into several thick photo books, realizing how much trouble he had created for himself.

After taking out all the leaf bookmarks, he had to arrange them in order according to the dates marked on them.

Song Fuzhi took out a small gift box from his bag and placed the various, delicate leaves, forming a “diary,” inside.

Just as he finished this, his phone rang.

Looking at the caller ID “Shi Zhang,” Song Fuzhi couldn’t help but grin.

“Hello,” Song Fuzhi answered the phone while holding it with his shoulder, quickly tying a bow on the gift box as he listened.

“Did you find it? Do you need help looking for it?” Shi Zhang asked gently.

“I found it.” Song Fuzhi kept his voice calm, even though he was sweating on his forehead. “You don’t need to come up; I’ll be there in a moment.”

“Okay,” Shi Zhang said. “Take your time.”

While Shi Zhang said not to hurry, Song Fuzhi became more anxious.

He was afraid that Shi Zhang, being too enthusiastic, might suddenly appear from behind, and the old teacher might really have a heart attack.

Song Fuzhi put the gift box back into his bag and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

As he prepared to leave, Song Fuzhi suddenly paused.

He saw next to him on Shi Zhang’s desk a kraft paper envelope.

This envelope had been lying there for a few days, and Song Fuzhi hadn’t touched it or asked Shi Zhang about it.

But now he noticed a colorful corner peeking out from under the envelope; it seemed to be a photograph.

Song Fuzhi pulled out the photo and looked at the unfamiliar family of four. The woman in the picture had facial features similar to Shi Zhang’s.

Then he immediately understood.

Turning to the back, he read the text, and his heart, previously anxious, now felt like it was immersed in a basin of cement.

It seemed that Shi Zhenglin liked to manipulate people’s emotions with such photos. He anonymously sent Shi Zhang’s past to Song Fuzhi, found it useless, and now used the same method on Shi Zhang.

How despicable.

In these days, Shi Zhang’s occasional absent-mindedness finally made sense.

With lowered eyes, Song Fuzhi put the photo back in its place and left the study.

“Did you find it?” Shi Zhang turned and asked.

Song Fuzhi nodded, holding up a small jar in his hand. “This is the honey I promised to bring for Mom. I forgot where I put it, so I searched for it for a while.”

Shi Zhang jokingly said, “Clumsy.”

The wind brushed against their faces. Song Fuzhi looked at the window view and suddenly sat up straight, his eyes showing panic.

Shi Zhang was driving, distractedly asking, “What’s wrong? Did you forget something again?”

Song Fuzhi calmly said, “No, nothing,” but his heart was pounding.

Did he put those photo books back in the drawer?

He was in such a hurry that he forgot whether he had taken them back.

Song Fuzhi felt a moment of suffocation, thinking that he would have to rush back to the study when he got home tonight, quickly putting the books back before Shi Zhang realized it.

Although Shi Zhang would eventually find out that he liked Teacher Zhang, letting him see the many photo books he had collected felt extremely embarrassing.

Song Fuzhi silently panicked, reassuring himself that, fortunately, they would be outside all day today, and there shouldn’t be anyone returning home early. The problem should be manageable!

Thinking this way, Song Fuzhi gradually relaxed.

The restaurant chosen by Lao Song had a pleasant atmosphere. When the two children arrived on time, they found that the two elders were already seated in the private room.

Upon seeing them, Lao Song smiled and said, “Xiaohou, happy birthday!”

Teacher Wang pointed to the seat beside him and said, “Come, have a seat.”

Shi Zhang smiled and said, “Thank you,” bowing slightly before taking his seat.

The dishes were quickly served.

Lao Song had a good taste, and the selected dishes were both delicious and fragrant. Shi Zhang was sincerely praised.

Although it was called a birthday banquet, it was just a family sitting together to have a meal, talking about mundane topics, creating a relaxed atmosphere.

Shi Zhang was used to it. Throughout the meal, he kept picking up food for Song Fuzhi, even skillfully removing the large bones from the fish before handing it to him. His movements were practiced and natural.

Unable to bear it, Lao Song frowned, tapping Song Fuzhi’s cup. “What nonsense is this? Today is Shi Zhang’s birthday, and you still want him to feed you?”

Song Fuzhi made a sound, looking left and right. He had no choice but to put the fish he had taken back into Shi Zhang’s bowl.

Laughter filled the table, and Shi Zhang pretended to say, “Delicious.”

When the meal was almost over, the power suddenly went out in the private room.

Sunlight was blocked by the curtains, casting the room into darkness.

Shi Zhang instinctively held Song Fuzhi’s hand, and with his other hand, he supported Lao Song’s arm beside him, comforting him, “It’s okay, I’ll go check…”

 The voice had not yet fallen when a candle on the table suddenly lit up, creating a warm flicker in the dimly lit room.

Song Fuzhi patted Shi Zhang’s arm from behind and gently sang, “Happy Birthday to You.”

As their eyes adjusted to the light, Shi Zhang saw a blueberry cake in the center of the table.

Mrs. Wang and Lao Song joined Song Fuzhi in clapping their hands and singing the birthday song cheerfully.

Shi Zhang slightly opened his mouth, feeling a bit teary-eyed and not knowing what to say.

“Oh!” Song Fuzhi finished the song and smiled, leaning close to Shi Zhang’s ear. “Make a wish and blow out the candle!”

Shi Zhang silently made a wish, blew out the candle, and amidst the cheers of his family, he said with a hoarse voice, “Thank you, Teacher Wang, thank you, Uncle Song, and… my Fuzhi.”

Song Fuzhi squeezed his hand and playfully tapped his head. “What’s with the formality? Why are you still calling me Teacher and Uncle after all this time? Aren’t my parents yours too?”

“Ah,” Shi Zhang’s voice became even more husky, a bit solemn.

Mom and Dad were words everyone had said thousands of times, but Shi Zhang had almost never used them since he was a child.

Mrs. Wang patted Song Fuzhi, saying, “Oh well, let him call whatever he wants.”

Song Fuzhi stubbornly looked at Shi Zhang, saying, “No matter what you call us, you have a family now; you always had one.”

Shi Zhang chuckled, “Okay.”

His eyes were a bit red, a bit embarrassed.

Not like a tough guy at the age of 36, just a boy who had finally returned home.