Chapter 23: Exclusive to Jinjiang 2/2

Luo Luli almost laughed like a goose. “It’s quite good. Let them see the true face of strict teacher song, and it will instantly bring the teacher-student relationship closer!”

“Please don’t.” Song Fuzhi almost ran out of the line until he couldn’t see his students before stopping.

Luo Luli followed him, enjoying the spectacle. She hadn’t seen Teacher Song in such a messy and desperate state. She regretted not recording it. If she ever had the chance to meet his students, she would definitely share it with them.

Look at your Teacher Song Great Demon Head now. When he sees you, he’ll run away!

The two stopped in a quiet corner, and Song Fuzhi, breathing heavily due to nervousness, and Luo Luli, panting from laughter, looked at each other.

“Why are you so secretive, hahaha?” Luo Luli was still laughing.

“It’s the 21st century. Middle-aged men liking anime characters on paper isn’t illegal!” Song Fuzhi supported his forehead expressionlessly. “It’s too embarrassing.”

If he were seen like this, where would he put his old face in front of those kids?

Luo Luli finally finished laughing and wiped the tears of laughter from the corner of her eyes, asking him, “What about Professor Zhang? Aren’t you going to see him?”

“…”

Song Fuzhi played with the ring on his ring finger and lowered his head. “Anyway, I’ve seen it. No regrets.”

On the way back, Song Fuzhi occasionally worried about bumping into his students. However, all the merchandise had been packed away. Even if he did run into them, it would be a one-sided ambush by Professor Song. In any case, he safely returned home with a bit of excitement.

Opening the door, Song Fuzhi felt as if he had returned from a dream to reality. Every comic con felt like a brief and wonderful dream. Everyone around shared the same interests: wearing their favorite clothes, casually taking photos with strangers, and having delightful conversations at the booths of interest.

Although it was crowded and a bit chaotic, it was a joyful experience. Shared hobbies allowed people from different places to create precious memories in their brief encounters.

Facing the untidy room full of stuff, he realized that he would be moving soon. There would be one more person in the house, and the newly bought merchandise would have to stay in the old home.

Song Fuzhi spent lazy days at home, taking a break for two days before calling Shi Zhang to confirm the moving time and arrangements.

“Professor Song?”

Shi Zhang answered the phone with a voice that sounded a bit hoarse, with a heavy nasal tone, quite different from his usual self.

Song Fuzhi paused and asked him, “Is Professor back from the business trip?”

Shi Zhang responded with a simple “yes.”

“Are you sick?” Song Fuzhi asked. “Your voice sounds a bit hoarse.”

Shi Zhang chuckled. “Just a common cold; I’ll be fine in a few days.”

The clothes he wore that day were stuffy, and the short sleeves made his arms hot. At the comic con, he experienced the changing temperatures while standing for the whole afternoon, talking to numerous fans. After the plane landed, he rushed back to the lab immediately, and following an urgent situation reported by the researchers, he spent another busy day before falling ill.

People do get old, and their physical resilience is not as robust as when they were younger.

Thinking for a moment, Song Fuzhi offered, “I’ll come and see you.”

Last time, when he had a headache, Professor Shi showed concern and even bought medicine for him. Now that they were married, as husbands, it was only natural to care for each other.

However, as expected, Shi Zhang said, “I’m fine; everything is normal. You don’t need to make a special trip.”

Politely, Song Fuzhi said, “How about I come over and cook for you? It’s tiring to cook for yourself when you’re sick, and takeout is too greasy.”

He thought that if Shi Zhang refused again this time, he would really let it go. Unexpectedly, after a few minutes, Shi Zhang directly sent an address: “Thank you, Professor Song.”

On the way to Shi Zhang’s place, Song Fuzhi checked some recipes and found a few light dishes suitable for someone under the weather.

Shi Zhang lived in a quiet neighborhood not far from the university. It wasn’t luxurious, but the surroundings were serene, and the residents were well-mannered.

Song Fuzhi bought a fresh mandarin fish, a bunch of Shanghai green vegetables, and two bags of plain noodles on the way and stopped in front of Shi Zhang’s house, ringing the doorbell.

The door opened quickly, and Shi Zhang, still wearing a neat long-sleeved shirt with a clean haircut, appeared completely healthy.

Song Fuzhi couldn’t help but be puzzled. “Are you sick?”

“I told you everything is normal; I’ll be fine soon.”

Shi Zhang smiled casually, looking quite energetic, but his hoarse voice still betrayed his illness.

Song Fuzhi thought that this man was really tough, and he asked, “Why are you dressed so neatly? Didn’t you rest?”

“I just finished a video conference.”

“You’re still working when you’re sick?” Song Fuzhi furrowed his brow.

“I only participated as an observer; it was easy.”

Song Fuzhi didn’t say much more, only asking, “Where’s the kitchen? I’ll go prepare the ingredients.”

Shi Zhang decided to accompany Song Fuzhi on a tour of his home. The house was probably what one would imagine a professor’s home to be—neat, spacious, and modern. The study was particularly impressive, with walls adorned with plant specimens he had prepared himself, resembling a small museum.

“Are you planning to move these to the new house?” Song Fuzhi asked.

Shi Zhang shook his head. “I’m too lazy to move them. I can make new ones later.”

Shi Zhang’s house was bright and open, except for one room whose door was tightly closed.

Song Fuzhi had no intention of prying into Shi Zhang’s privacy, deliberately passing by that door without asking any questions.

Shi Zhang took the initiative to explain, “That’s the dressing room.”

But that was all he said. Song Fuzhi nodded, not paying too much attention, and went to the kitchen to prepare the food.

Although Song Fuzhi didn’t usually cook, he had lived alone for many years. Making a simple, light, and delicious meal was still quite easy for him.

While Song Fuzhi was busy in the kitchen, he wanted to find some garlic, but he didn’t want to disturb Shi Zhang, so he searched the kitchen cabinets himself.

He didn’t find any garlic, but he did discover two Chinese cookbooks in the cabinet. Many pages had folded corners, and there were quite a few notes written beside the recipes.

Even though Shi Zhang was a professor, he still had a life, and it seemed he enjoyed researching recipes at home.

Song Fuzhi efficiently prepared the meal, perfectly coinciding with the end of a class. He contemplated letting Shi Zhang sleep a bit longer but worried that too much sleep now might lead to insomnia at night.

Quietly entering the bedroom, Professor Shi lay still, deeply asleep. Without his glasses, his facial features were clean, his eyelashes were densely drooping, and his jawline looked distinct due to the tilted head.

Song Fuzhi hesitated to wake him directly, squatting by the bedside for a while before softly calling, “Professor Shi, it’s time to wake up.”

Shi Zhang didn’t respond. Song Fuzhi raised his voice a bit. “Shi Zhang?”

Still no movement. Song Fuzhi, concerned, called out a bit louder, “Shi Zhang?”

He remained motionless, his breathing carrying a slightly obstructed weight.

Suddenly feeling anxious, Song Fuzhi subconsciously reached out to touch Shi Zhang’s forehead, finding it scalding.

Burning hot.

Song Fuzhi almost shook his shoulders immediately, but Shi Zhang woke up suddenly. He furrowed his brows slightly, his gaze somewhat dazed as he looked at Song Fuzhi.

“You have a fever, a high one. Have you taken any medicine?”

Shi Zhang whispered, “It’s fine,” then added, “My body temperature is naturally high; it’s not severe.”

Song Fuzhi was on the verge of scolding him with “nonsense,” but he kept calm. “Your forehead is burning; that’s not mild.”

Shi Zhang smiled. “That’s because your body temperature is low, so it feels hot when you touch it.”

What kind of twisted logic was this? Song Fuzhi suspected that Professor Shi’s brain had been damaged by the fever.

Song Fuzhi fetched a thermometer and insisted on Shi Zhang measuring his temperature. It turned out to be a slight fever, not too serious.

“How high is your normal body temperature?” Song Fuzhi read the thermometer, still somewhat skeptical.

Shi Zhang chuckled. “You’ll know later.”

Although it wasn’t severe, it was still a fever.

Shi Zhang obediently took the medicine, and Song Fuzhi supervised him.

“Take care and rest well,” Song Fuzhi said in a soothing tone. “Business trips for professors are too demanding.”

Shi Zhang, tilting his head to swallow the pill, responded with a gulp, “Not demanding. And in the future, I won’t have such demanding trips again.”

Song Fuzhi asked casually, “Where did you go on the business trip?”

Shi Zhang didn’t answer immediately, his expression somewhat solemn as if organizing his words.

“It’s okay,” Song Fuzhi empathetically said. “If it’s inconvenient to talk about, you don’t have to.”

After contemplating for a moment, Shi Zhang spoke, “It was a project I’ve been working on for a long time. This business trip was to wrap it up—the last one.”

Song Fuzhi made a sound of acknowledgment, asking, “Was the project successful?”

Shi Zhang thought, for a moment, “Successful.”

“Not willing to end it?” Song Fuzhi inquired.

“A bit,” Shi Zhang replied.

Song Fuzhi, thinking of something, sighed, “I understand,” and continued, “Every day, countless things come to an end. There’s no never-ending feast, so it’s impressive to wrap things up satisfactorily.”

“Moreover,” he added, “if there’s a chance, we can continue with Project 2.0. Doesn’t the professor want to contribute to the country openly?”

Shi Zhang’s eyes curled in a smile, promising to do so.

After finishing dinner, it was getting late.

Shi Zhang naturally asked Song Fuzhi if he wanted to stay overnight.

Living together as a legal couple had its perks—people could openly suggest staying the night without any embarrassment.

Song Fuzhi glanced at his clothes and, after some consideration, declined, “I didn’t bring a change of clothes, so it’s inconvenient. I don’t want to disturb your rest.” This was his true thought, although he also needed a few days to mentally prepare for suddenly sleeping together.

Shi Zhang nodded straightforwardly, without insisting. After all, they would be moving in together soon.

“Well, then let’s meet in the new house in a few days.”

Waving goodbye, Song Fuzhi left, saying, “See you in the new house.”