Chapter 3: Three-dimensional 1/2

In the following weeks, Qiao Xuyang did not contact Song Fuzhi anymore. Instead, the one looking for him was Wang Huiling.

Wang Huiling called, and her first sentence was, “How are things with Xuyang? I heard he’s quite satisfied with you.”

Song Fuzhi sighed and calmly reported, “Not suitable; it’s over.”

Mrs. Wang was silent for a few seconds. Her tone suddenly became calm, sounding icy. “Are you with someone? Just having a meal isn’t considered being with someone.”

“I knew we wouldn’t work out when we got to the second course,” Song Fuzhi said. “No need to waste time.”

“Fine, you just eat with people like this, too proud, looking down on everyone! When your father and I are gone, you’ll be alone.”

Song Fuzhi frowned; he hated hearing these words the most.

“Oh, talking about going or not going!”

The phone was taken by his father; Old Song’s voice rushed in a bit flustered: “Fuzhi, your mother is just worried about you. She spoke a bit harshly, ah.”

“I know,” Song Fuzhi said.

Old Song sighed. “Are you free this weekend? Come back for a meal.”

Song Fuzhi agreed.

When he went to his parents’ house, Old Song was in the middle of choosing vegetables, holding a dripping Chinese cabbage, and ran out, smiling warmly, “Oh, you’re back.”

Wang Huiling was busy in the kitchen and didn’t bother to come out to greet him.

Song Fuzhi placed the milk, fruits, and small cakes he brought next to him, took the Chinese cabbage from his father’s hand, and silently entered the kitchen.

Mother and son, one choosing vegetables and the other stir-frying, heard the sound of sizzling oil crackle, and no one spoke.

If you talk about the piercing chill in Song Fuzhi’s personality, eighty percent of it is inherited from his mother.

Mrs. Wang had been a teacher all her life, eating more chalk dust than kitchen fumes, and was a typical strict teacher in the eyes of students, exuding a strong sense of oppression.

With one old and one young icicle in the family, someone had to play the peacemaker. Song Dad did the talking, persuading on one side and comforting on the other. It wasn’t until the dishes were on the table that the mother and son spoke their first words.

Song Fuzhi said, “There’s too much salt on the eggplant.”

Mrs. Wang blocked the bowl with her chopsticks. “Then don’t eat it.”

Old Song laughed happily. “Ah, that’s just right!”

Song Dad was a doctor who retired just last year, and the plaques from patients couldn’t fit on one wall. Mrs. Wang specially prepared a small box to store the plaques for him.

“I’ll be retiring this year too,” Mrs. Wang said, looking at Song Fuzhi, her tone still as indifferent.

The meaning was clear. Both of them were retiring, and you haven’t even started a romantic relationship. With no one around you, how could your parents not worry about growing old?

In fact, the couple had been very busy before, with one taking care of students and the other taking care of patients. When Song Fuzhi was young, they hardly paid attention to him.

From choosing schools to selecting majors and finding jobs, they supported all of Song Fuzhi’s choices. The only thing they were firm about was marriage. They didn’t allow Song Fuzhi to remain single.

It wasn’t that he had to get married, but at least there should be someone around—someone to take care of each other. Otherwise, his parents couldn’t rest assured that he would grow old.

Song Fuzhi was indeed a difficult person. If asked to go on blind dates, he would go. He would meet anyone arranged for him, but there was never a follow-up after the first meeting.

He started going on blind dates at the age of twenty-eight and intermittently went on them until he was thirty-two, meeting a truckload of people. There were all kinds of men, but none of them worked out.

Every time he came back, he would say more or less the same things: “not suitable,” “not appealing,” “won’t work.”

No wonder his mother was anxious; anyone would be.

“Let’s talk. What exactly are you thinking?” Mrs. Wang asked.

Song Fuzhi said the same thing as always: “I’ll get married when I meet the right person.”

Blind dates were a temporary job. After Qiao Xuyang’s project ended, Song Dad and Song Mom didn’t bring it up again. They knew how busy their son was as a teacher, and they wouldn’t bother him with phone calls. They preferred their son to come home early and rest.

At the end of the semester, there were many tasks to wrap up the entire term: organize the review framework, coordinate exams, provide feedback, and more.

Every day, when Song Fuzhi went to the classroom to check on the situation, he would be bombarded with questions. He was busy with his teaching duties.

Although the students were afraid of Song Fuzhi, they dared to ask questions when they had problems because he was always patient, never criticizing them for not understanding. He was extremely patient.

During the invigilation, Song Fuzhi caught a cheater from another class, a bold move that resulted in a zero on the spot. The second half of the exam was silent.

Maybe every school has its “Four Great Detectives,” and Song Fuzhi was the most feared detective at their school, the one who could see through any trick. Even Kaito Kuroba couldn’t hide from him.

Once the students finished their exams, they were completely liberated, watching English movies in class, having snacks, and holding tea parties. Their hearts were already on winter break.

But the teachers couldn’t relax yet. They had to hurry to finish grading papers, analyze and organize the results, discuss the papers, talk to students who needed help, assign homework, conduct training, and deal with a bunch of miscellaneous tasks before they could consider it done.

On the first day of winter break, Song Fuzhi slept for fifteen hours straight.

When he woke up, the world was dim. Feeling for his phone and checking the time, he was surprised to see a screen full of messages, all from Luo Lüli.

I know you’re on vacation, hahaha! Stop pretending to sleep, get up, and eat my recommendation! I’m telling you, you’ll definitely like this. Just watch one episode, even if it’s just for a minute!

Luo Lüli sent him a long string of share links. Song Fuzhi patiently scrolled through them one by one, picking the ones he found interesting and bookmarking them.

He replied to her, bookmarked, Bring on the meal.

Luo Lüli responded with a laughing expression and then began her usual non-serious banter: You don’t want that sunshine puppy, right? I think his photos look pretty good. Let me try him out for you.

Song Fuzhi was immune to her wolfish remarks and replied, “Ask him yourself.”

Luo Lüli was just joking; she had no interest in gay matters.

“But speaking fairly, Auntie really doesn’t understand her son. Qiao Xuyang’s type doesn’t seem to be your cup of tea.”

Song Fuzhi asked her, “Then what is my cup of tea?”

“Someone like Octopus Teacher, of course.”

Luo Lüli blurted out, “Muscular, badass, suited, violent, cool, fierce, domineering, cold, and a manly top.”

This buff was piled up without end. Song Fuzhi laughed and called her nonsense.

Luo Lüli was a plastic model expert that Song Fuzhi met when he first entered the Gundam hobby. Her work was among the top three in the GBWC regional competition.

When it came to the friend he was closest to over the years, it had to be Luo Lüli.

Her real name was Luo Lilang, an especially tough and neutral name. So, when she was full of girlish feelings, Miss Luo gave herself a beautiful, ancient-style screen name. Now it still looked quite adolescent.

But having used the screen name for so many years, she couldn’t change it. So, even though she repeatedly and seriously refused, Song Fuzhi still called her Luo Lüli out of habit.