Chapter 68: Exclusive on Jinjiang 1/2

In the vast expanse of blankness, the clock pointed to twelve, crossing Shi Zhang’s birthday, and their lives converged at this moment.

Song Fuzhi heard Shi Zhang, who was close to his ear, say—

“Baby, happy birthday.”

Song Fuzhi shivered all over, and even the tone of the last word changed.

How could he be called that way? How could he say these two words? It was too unfair.

Shi Zhang leaned against Song Fuzhi’s shoulder and whispered from his chest, “Song Fuzhi, I love you.”

Such a hoarse voice, as if a heart had been crushed and then presented, contained so many precious emotions in these simple three words.

Song Fuzhi suddenly felt a huge surge of sourness and sweetness mixed together, knocking him into pieces from the inside out.

Shi Zhang confessed in such a tone, making people feel that he truly, deeply loved them.

The two sat quietly on the sofa for a while.

Song Fuzhi gradually regained his senses and gritted his teeth. “You’re finished next time, Shi Zhang.”

Although his tone was soft, his voice was hoarse, and he had no killing intent, Shi Zhang knew that Professor Song might really take revenge.

Shi Zhang used his fingers to play with Song Fuzhi’s hair and asked, “Have you ever thought about how assassins would deal with you before?”

Song Fuzhi awkwardly avoided eye contact.

How could he ask him such a question face to face?

“It’s okay if you don’t say.” Shi Zhang smiled gently. “Even if you say it, I won’t listen.”

–

Rose petals were scattered on the living room carpet. Once, African daisies were scattered here too, but roses were even more chaotic.

Shi Zhang had been trying hard to endure since he saw the photobook in Song Fuzhi’s drawer in the morning. It wasn’t until he saw the chat records on Luo Luli’s phone that he lost control.

But he didn’t expect that after returning home, he would be hit directly by a big gift from Song Fuzhi. In a moment of brief blankness, his nerves exploded and burned.

For Shi Zhang, this day was like a cosmic explosion and a collapse of everything—love mixed with desire, pouring out. All the beautiful things were compressed into his arms, flourishing in his barren world.

Shi Zhang thought that the language of the civilized era couldn’t express what he wanted to say. So, all the inflated emotions erupted in an instant.

Song Fuzhi was still somewhat sober at the moment.

He originally thought that he could finally take a break with Shi Zhang and enjoy a moment of tenderness on the messy sofa. However, Shi Zhang just buried his head in the crook of his neck for a moment and then directly lifted him horizontally.

Shi Zhang carried Song Fuzhi to the study.

“Why are we here?” Song Fuzhi asked.

At the moment, Shi Zhang’s appearance wasn’t dignified. The buttons of his shirt were either torn off or undone, revealing an excellent physique. His hair was scattered, and his bangs fell over his eyebrows, giving him a wild appearance.

Shi Zhang placed both hands on the table on either side of Song Fuzhi’s body, enclosing him in his territory.

He asked, “Is there anything Professor Song wants to explain here?”

The tone was calm, but the gaze was burning.

Song Fuzhi was slightly stunned by the question, feeling a bit guilty. Subconsciously, his eyes glanced down at the drawer, but he quickly looked away.

Shi Zhang already knew that he had bought his photobook, but why did he ask this? Did he know that he had locked the books in the drawer?

The two stared at each other for three seconds. Song Fuzhi gradually felt his back go numb under Shi Zhang’s predatory gaze.

Song Fuzhi stammered, suddenly having an epiphany. “Oh,” he exclaimed, “I do have something I haven’t given you.”

Shi Zhang raised an eyebrow and said, “You say, I’ll take it.”

Song Fuzhi pointed to the envelope in his bag on the side and said, “In the bag, there’s an envelope.”

Shi Zhang was also a bit puzzled.

Shouldn’t it be the locked photobook in the drawer? Why did it become something in the bag?

But following Song Fuzhi’s instructions was ingrained in Shi Zhang’s instincts. He opened Song Fuzhi’s bag and really took out an envelope from inside.

Very light but with some thickness.

“Open it and take a look.” Song Fuzhi smiled. “Blame you for coming home so suddenly; I forgot to take it out to give you.”

Now, the content in the envelope is up to your imagination.

Shi Zhang carefully opened the envelope and took out a neatly arranged stack of leaves from inside.

Each leaf had a few lines of neatly written, small characters.

“At the school’s locust tree, almost seen by students.”

“I helped a child with a kite while camping and heard the rustling of leaves in the tent at night.”

“Leaves floated into the Su Su flowerpot; I picked them up.”

…

Reading through them one by one, it resembled a living-page diary full of natural breath.

The scenes and memories from that time—the laughter and joy of the two—were condensed in these pieces of leaves.

After Shi Zhang finished reading, he remained silent for a long time. There were many things he wanted to say, yet he surprisingly couldn’t utter a single word.

Song Fuzhi slightly retreated, asking, “Do you like it? We can continue collecting leaves for specimens later.”

Shi Zhang asked him in a low voice, “Is there more?”

Song Fuzhi replied, “More of what?”

“Birthday gifts,” Shi Zhang said. “Have you finished giving them?”

Song Fuzhi smiled and said, “Ah, this time, I really don’t have anything else.”

“You’ve given so much, so thoughtfully, that it makes me feel quite inferior in comparison,” Shi Zhang said.

Song Fuzhi laughed twice: “Then next year, give me more.”

Shi Zhang carefully placed the leaves back into the envelope and gently placed them in the drawer.

“But specimens aren’t done like this. I’ll tell you how to make plant specimens later,” Shi Zhang said.

“Oh,” Song Fuzhi nodded, “sure.”

“What about my simple version?” Song Fuzhi shook his legs and asked knowingly, “Do you like it?”

Shi Zhang struggled to restrain himself, pressing down Song Fuzhi’s restless leg. “Do you want to hear the truth?”

Song Fuzhi hesitated for a few seconds. Could it be that Professor Shi really didn’t like the simple specimen he made?

But he nodded. “Tell me the truth.”

“To be honest, Professor Song, with you preparing so many things so thoughtfully…” Shi Zhang bit onto Song Fuzhi’s earlobe with his canine teeth, his tone fierce. “I just want one kind of response.”

The tone was quite stern, and Song Fuzhi seemed like he was shocked.

After a while, Shi Zhang’s tone softened a bit. He calmly suppressed something in his voice: “Have you rested well?”

Song Fuzhi gritted his teeth and said, “Not yet.”

Shi Zhang pulled him, making Song Fuzhi stand and lean against the edge of the desk.

A rose lay on the desk, probably brought over casually just now.

Shi Zhang plucked the rose from the stem swiftly.

The petals gently swept downward, then stopped.

Song Fuzhi almost couldn’t stand steady, and Shi Zhang firmly caught him with one hand.

Professor Shi considerately said, “Then rest a little more.”

He changed the topic to “When you’re resting, let’s talk about the question you haven’t answered.”

Song Fuzhi tensed his muscles, his gaze drifting away. “What?”

Shi Zhang’s patience was exhausted, and he couldn’t be bothered to beat around the bush. He directly said, “When I went home this afternoon to get my clothes, I saw the books spread out on your desk. They looked very familiar.”

Song Fuzhi suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, feeling nervous, and his abdominal muscles tensed.

Shi Zhang stopped abruptly behind him, somewhat incredulous. “Familiar?”

Song Fuzhi only realized and internally exclaimed, “It’s over.”

He wanted to explain and wanted to play it down, but the suddenly intensified rhythm made breathing difficult.

Shi Zhang, dumbfounded by Song Fuzhi’s silence, treated it as consent, becoming more and more uncontrollable.

This little thing directly ignited Shi Zhang.

Actually, rationally thinking, Song Fuzhi had been single for so many years, fantasizing about anyone wouldn’t matter. However, at this moment, Shi Zhang had absolutely no remaining sanity.

The saintly and wise books covering the walls, the mathematics of plants, nature, and the universe, the beauty of mountains and waters, the allure of moonlight, towering buildings with neon lights—all witnessed this absurd affair between mortals.

Song Fuzhi this time truly felt like he was done for, but without stopping for a second, he was once again carried back to the nest by the momentarily confused carnivore, pressed against the transparent window sill.

—

The boundary between day and night has lost its effect in this house.

The Earth rotated, the sun rose and the moon set, people woke up, went out, had breakfast, chatted and laughed, haggled with vendors, vehicles rushed, and the flow of life continued, but none of these had anything to do with the two inside the house.

When people enjoyed the brilliant sunlight, Shi Zhang lay in the bathtub, holding someone.

Not a single word came out of Song Fuzhi.

He lowered his head weakly, looking at his abdomen.

It still appeared firm and flat, with muscles clearly defined, thankfully, thankfully.

Song Fuzhi soon fell back asleep in the warm water; he was so damn exhausted.

Until he was dried and sent back to bed, Song Fuzhi hadn’t woken up.

Shi Zhang planted a gentle kiss on his forehead, the picture of a true gentleman.

“Goodnight.”

As the weekend night in the city was about to begin, Shi Zhang woke up first.

Song Fuzhi was still sleeping, occasionally frowning or murmuring softly.

Shi Zhang was tired too, but the complete sense of satisfaction made him feel a hundred times more energetic.

He propped his head beside Song Fuzhi, staring at him for a long time, a gentle smile on his lips, one he wasn’t even aware of.

Watching Song Fuzhi’s slow and steady breathing, Shi Zhang suddenly felt a childish impulse.

He wanted to show off and wanted the whole world to know how wonderful his lover was.

Shi Zhang took out his phone and logged into Weibo, which he hadn’t used for a long time.

Ten minutes later, the long-silent Weibo of Teacher Octopus suddenly posted new content.

A picture with a caption.

The twilight spilled onto the soft pillow, and the hands of an adult male were intertwined with another hand.