Chapter 13: The Thirteenth Dimension 2/2

“We initially thought you were progressing quite fast,” Wang Huiling paused, “and we thought you could get to know each other better. But marriage is your own business. Since you’ve made this decision, it means you’ve thought about it. We think it’s good.”

Old Song still looked a bit worried. He leaned towards Shi Zhang and asked, “Xiaoshi, did you make this decision because of the former head teacher’s pressure?”

“No, rest assured.” Shi Zhang found Song’s dad very cute. “I did it voluntarily.”

“I think Fuzhi is excellent.”

While saying this, Shi Zhang was picking up food with his eyes down. His tone was casual, but it was serious.

Song Fuzhi paused with her chopsticks, looked at Shi Zhang for a moment, and resumed chewing after two seconds.

This man called him the last two characters of his name for the first time. “Fuzhi” was a flat tone, but it had a gentle feeling that made people’s hearts slightly numb.

“When do you plan to register?” Wang Huiling asked.

Shi Zhang subconsciously looked at Song Fuzhi, and Song Fuzhi received his gaze, saying, “Let’s pick an afternoon when neither of us has classes.”

“Oh, right, Professor Shi, are you busy at the university?” Old Song’s thinking was quite jumpy, asking whatever came to his mind.

Shi Zhang hurriedly said, “You can just call me Xiaoshi.”

Song Fuzhi had brought up the topic of school, and the three teachers chatted for a long time, talking about the difference between high school and university, the busy work, lamenting the changing times, and how the kids nowadays were different from before.

Shi Zhang had a lot to say in this area and integrated well. On the contrary, Old Song couldn’t get a word in and sat on the side, peeling shrimp with frustration.

After chatting for a while about the work of the country’s gardener, the topic was finally brought back by Wang Huiling.

“So, where do you plan to live after marriage?”

Shi Zhang and Song Fuzhi looked at each other and slowly said, “We haven’t discussed that yet.”

“Find a house between the university and the affiliated high school,” Old Song suggested. “It will be convenient for commuting.”

“Buy a house together?” Shi Zhang asked. “We can rent out our current one.”

“That’s a possibility,” Song Fuzhi nodded. “We’ll go back and take a look.”

After finishing the meal, Shi Zhang and Song Fuzhi went to wash the dishes, and the elderly couple didn’t stop them. Two people cooked, and two people washed the dishes, which was very fair.

Satisfied and full, Shi Zhang was pulled by Old Song to play chess on the balcony. An old man and a young man chatted and laughed, creating a harmonious scene in the bright spring sunshine.

Song Fuzhi was a bit mesmerized, until Wang Huiling stood in front of him and made a gesture towards the inside.

Wang Huiling took Song Fuzhi to a room in the house and opened with, “You and Shi Zhang aren’t very familiar yet.”

“…”

“You’ll get to know each other later,” Song Fuzhi didn’t deny.

Song Fuzhi knew that their state couldn’t escape the eyes of his mother, so from the beginning, he didn’t intend to act.

Wang Huiling remained silent for a while and sighed lightly. “You… how far do you plan to get to know him?”

Song Fuzhi opened his mouth but didn’t speak.

Since childhood, Song Fuzhi has been the kind of “other people’s child”—good  grades, handsome, obedient. Everyone praised him for being “sensible.”

At first, his parents were happy, thinking it was easy to deal with, but gradually they realized that Song Fuzhi just looked obedient. In reality, he had his own standards, and once he made up his mind, others couldn’t persuade him.

He was obedient and sensible, but not transparent, rarely sharing his inner thoughts with others.

When his parents were busy during his childhood, they didn’t have time to communicate with him. So, when they finally realized it, they found out they had never truly understood their son’s real self. They missed all the opportunities to get closer to him, and he had matured too quickly.

“I want someone to accompany you. I hope you can communicate with him easily and open up yourself without pretending or being reserved,” Wang Huiling said.

“This is not something you can achieve just because you hope for it, Mom,” Song Fuzhi quietly smiled. “And I’m not usually reserved.”

Wang Huiling knew that saying more wouldn’t help, so she ended with, “You should treat him well.”

“I will,” Song Fuzhi chuckled. “Mom, you sound like you’re worried I’ll let him down.”

The tone of Mrs. Wang seemed as if she was afraid he would disappoint the other person.

The afternoon at Mrs. Wang’s house was very leisurely. Spring deepened, tender buds emerged outside the window, birds chirped, and Shi Zhang and Old Song became addicted to playing chess in the bright spring light, their brows furrowed in deep thought.

“Such a good day; sitting here will give me a heat rash on my buttocks.” Wang Huiling scolded, waving her hand to shoo them away. “Go, go, Xiao Song; take your classmate Shi out for a stroll. By the way, bring back some vegetables on your way; we’ll have them for dinner.”

This was to prevent Shi Zhang from staying uncomfortably in their house all the time. She told Song Fuzhi to take him out for some fresh air, as sitting with an old man playing chess all day wasn’t a good idea.

Song Fuzhi obediently took Shi Zhang downstairs for a stroll. In the elevator, the two stood side by side. Shi Zhang looked quite relaxed, staring at Song Fuzhi in the elevator mirror, and said, “Uncle is very kind.”

Song Fuzhi deliberately asked, “What about the head teacher?”

“Teacher Wang is as good as before,” Shi Zhang answered.

“Professor Shi, I think my parents are quite satisfied with you.”

The elevator door opened, and Song Fuzhi led Shi Zhang towards the sunlight.

This statement was actually unnecessary. Professor Shi behaved politely and was almost the type of younger generation that any parent would like. It would be strange if they were not satisfied.

Looking at Shi Zhang, Song Fuzhi asked, “What about you? Is Professor Song satisfied with me?”

Shi Zhang directly asked, “Can I get to know you more?”

“What aspects do you want to know?” Song Fuzhi’s rhetoric was so skillful that he effortlessly steered the conversation away, and Song Fuzhi unconsciously followed along.

After thinking seriously for a few seconds, Shi Zhang, with a serious expression, asked, “For example, is Professor Song comfortable holding hands on the street?”

Before Song Fuzhi could answer, Shi Zhang leaned slightly towards him, and the back of his hand gently touched Song Fuzhi’s fingertips.

Breathing seemed to tighten instantly. Song Fuzhi didn’t dodge, nor did he comply; he just stiffened there.

Professor Shi was really bad. If he wanted to hold hands, he could just do it. He had to ask seriously, wait for him to answer, and wait for him to act.

Shi Zhang looked at him, suddenly chuckled lightly, and his eyes slightly curved.

“It seems Professor Song is not used to it.”

Song Fuzhi felt like he was looked down upon. A man in his thirties was too afraid to hold hands; it would be a joke if it got out, especially among the young couples in the school.

Hold hands if you want to!

Song Fuzhi tried to grab Shi Zhang’s hand with a stern face but ended up grabbing air. Shi Zhang happened to unintentionally retract his hand.

… This made Song Fuzhi’s blood surge in anger.

But the next second, his palm was suddenly enveloped by another dry and warm hand, and Shi Zhang gently held it.

Palms intertwined.

“It’s okay if you’re not used to it,” Shi Zhang said. “Let’s hold hands for a little while, and we’ll let go when we reach the entrance of the community.”