Chapter 16: Sixteenth Dimension 

On the way back, Song Fuzhi told Shi Zhang about Qiao Xuyang.

In fact, it could be summarized in a few sentences. They had met through blind dates before, and Qiao Xuyang had been pursuing Song Fuzhi unilaterally, but she had never accepted him.

“Professor Shi, don’t mind it. I told him that we are getting married, so he shouldn’t bother me anymore.” Song Fuzhi paused and added, “I’m not double-dealing.”

“I know,” Shi Zhang quickly replied. “I could tell from the first meeting at the coffee shop. He pursued you too aggressively.”

It took Song Fuzhi a moment to realize which time he was referring to.

Even before the blind date, when the café staff called them “Mr. S,” he and Shi Zhang coincidentally sat at the same table.

At that time, Qiao Xuyang gave him roses, and Shi Zhang sat across from him.

“You still remember,” Song Fuzhi chuckled lightly. “I almost forgot.”

Shi Zhang quickly looked away and said after a while, “Seeing someone proposing with roses in a public place leaves a deep impression.”

This little episode was casually passed over, and Shi Zhang didn’t ask further or inquire about Song Fuzhi’s previous blind date experiences. The two returned to Professor Wang’s house peacefully and had a harmonious dinner.

When Song Fuzhi lowered his head to drink soup, his thoughts seemed to wander.

What Qiao Xuyang said was not wrong. Shi Zhang appeared to be too refined. Even when his future partner was expressed admiration by someone else, he showed no emotion, didn’t investigate afterward, and could still talk about skateboarding with the other person.

Even this afternoon, when the elderly lady doing health promotion handed them condoms, there was no change in Shi Zhang’s expression.

He didn’t care so much; it could only be because he didn’t love.

Song Fuzhi thought this was easy to understand, and he understood it well.

because he was the same.

Anyway, the family had a joyful dinner, and Song Fuzhi could see how happy his parents were. That was enough.

After finishing the meal and tidying up, the four of them sat together and chatted for a while. Professor Wang then started urging them to leave, asking them to rest early since the weekend was short.

Song Fuzhi didn’t politely refuse; he briefly said a few words to his parents and bid farewell to Shi Zhang.

“Thank you for your hard work, Professor Shi.” This was the first thing Song Fuzhi said to Shi Zhang after leaving the house.

Shi Zhang smiled. “What kind of words are these? It’s not hard.”

In the morning, Song Fuzhi was originally going to drive to pick up Shi Zhang, but Shi Zhang said his home was far away and not on the way, so he didn’t let Song Fuzhi pick him up. They came over in two cars.

The two cars were parked downstairs, and they didn’t rush to separate. They stood together and discussed the arrangements for the future.

When to register and whether to look for a house, the two took out their schedules and calendars to discuss.

“Sit in my car and talk,” Shi Zhang suddenly suggested. “It’s a bit cold outside tonight.”

Song Fuzhi agreed and followed Shi Zhang into his car.

Shi Zhang sat in the driver’s seat, and Song Fuzhi took the passenger seat.

While adjusting his clothes, Song Fuzhi felt a small protrusion in his pocket. As he touched it, he quickly remembered what it was.

the condoms that the older lady had given them.

Song Fuzhi silently withdrew his hand and asked, “By the way, before getting the marriage certificate, shall we schedule a premarital health check?”

“Sure,” Shi Zhang replied, “I’ll check if there are any differences in the examination items at various hospitals.”

With the schedule nearly set, Song Fuzhi looked at the wedding schedule on the calendar, neatly arranged with his class schedule.

“Let’s meet at the hospital then,” Song Fuzhi said to Shi Zhang. “Professor, get some rest.”

He then planned to get out of the car.

“Professor Song, wait,” Shi Zhang called out softly.

“Hmm?” Song Fuzhi sat back down.

He wanted to ask Shi Zhang if there was something else, but couldn’t bring himself to ask.

Because he saw Shi Zhang reach for a compartment in the car, taking out a velvet box.

It was the rings they had recently bought.

Since Song Fuzhi saw the box, he fell into silence. He watched silently as Shi Zhang’s slender fingers touched the edge of the box, gently pushing it open, revealing a faint golden light flowing smoothly through the dark velvet.

Suddenly, Shi Zhang raised his eyelids, gently capturing Song Fuzhi’s gaze with his deep black eyes, focusing intently on him.

Song Fuzhi suddenly felt his throat go dry, unable to utter a word.

“I’ve thought about it and made a decision,” Shi Zhang said slowly. His eyes lowered again as his thumb touched the golden ring.

When his eyes were lowered, only a faint wrinkle remained on his eyelids, his eyelashes were dense, and the lenses formed a crescent-like curve under the eye sockets, giving him a cultured appearance.

That crescent curve suddenly flickered as Shi Zhang lifted his face.

“I want to propose to Professor Song. I wonder if Professor Song finds it too abrupt,” Shi Zhang said.

Song Fuzhi calmly asked, “Didn’t we already decide earlier?”

“We said it verbally.” Shi Zhang carefully picked up the ring, “but it was only verbal.”

“But I didn’t bring mine with me,” Song Fuzhi said. “This one is yours.”

Shi Zhang suddenly laughed, the curvature of his eyes gentle.

“As I mentioned before, my ring is yours,” he said, looking at the ring in his hand.

Song Fuzhi looked at the ring in Shi Zhang’s hand, his heart beating rapidly. In the narrow and silent space, it felt deafening.

Shi Zhang looked at Song Fuzhi and smiled, saying, “Actually, Professor Song can still change his mind now. There are many talented and attractive young people outside, and Professor Song has many choices.”

“But if you put on the ring, whether it’s skateboarding or giving roses, Professor Song will miss them all.”

Song Fuzhi remained silent for a moment and asked, “Professor Shi, are you still bothered by what happened this afternoon?”

Shi Zhang hesitated for a moment, then nodded honestly, saying, “I feel uncomfortable seeing others pursue you.”

He reached out to Song Fuzhi with his left hand, palm facing up.

“Is it okay?” he asked.

Song Fuzhi, looking down at Shi Zhang’s hand, long and powerful, with even skin tone, likely the hands that frequently held test tubes and pens,

Song Fuzhi lost the ability to breathe in that moment. He found it difficult to resist and slowly placed his left hand in Shi Zhang’s palm.

Touching his fingertips was a warm sensation, the same as the temperature when his hand was on the back of his neck in the afternoon.

“Professor Song agreed,” Shi Zhang confirmed again.

“Yeah,” Song Fuzhi said, raising an eyebrow. “I agreed.”

In the next second, Shi Zhang held onto Song Fuzhi’s left hand, slowly pushing the gold ring from the tip of his middle finger until it snugly fit around the base of Song Fuzhi’s finger.

Song Fuzhi instinctively curled his fingers, feeling the unfamiliar sensation of the ring and a sense of restraint.

Song Fuzhi lowered his eyes and said, “It doesn’t look right with just one person wearing it.”

“Then next time we meet, you put it on me. Is that okay?” Shi Zhang asked.

“Of course,” Song Fuzhi replied.

“Drive slowly back home,” Shi Zhang said.

“Okay.”

In fact, Song Fuzhi hadn’t completely recovered, but Shi Zhang had already unlocked the car door with a soft click, reminding him that it was time to go home.

Song Fuzhi’s mind hadn’t returned to normal yet, but his body reacted first. He pushed open the car door and stepped out.

“Professor Song.”

Sitting in the car, Shi Zhang called out to Song Fuzhi.

Song Fuzhi subconsciously stopped, looking at the professor sitting in the softly lit driver’s seat, emitting an indescribable charm.

He emitted a questioning “Hmm?” from his nostrils.

Shi Zhang looked gently at Song Fuzhi and said, “Come closer.”

His gaze was so light but resembled a bottomless, deep pool, making Song Fuzhi unable to resist.

Song Fuzhi took a step closer, slowly bending down.

Shi Zhang reached out, holding Song Fuzhi’s collar, a slight touch through the fabric, falling beside the collarbone.

Song Fuzhi widened his eyes slightly, subconsciously holding his breath.

But the touch disappeared the next second.

Shi Zhang withdrew his hand, and there were a few white cotton fibers on his fingertips.

“Cotton fluff,” Shi Zhang said. “It fell on you.”

Song Fuzhi: “Oh.”

Before he could straighten up, Shi Zhang reached out again, pressing on the same spot.

Song Fuzhi’s body stiffened, maintaining the bent posture.

Shi Zhang leaned slightly towards the car window, shortening the distance between them.

He whispered, “Goodnight, fiancé.

“The voice is even softer than Yang Xu’s.