Chapter 38: Exclusive Content on Jinjiang 2/2

This was evident from their unconventional sports meeting opening ceremony. Not only were the students creative, but the school was also willing to create a stage for them.

In this day and age, schools that balance academics and comprehensive education seem rare.

Song Fuzhi was somewhat out of place in the teachers’ community. He was always serious and rarely joked with students.

After the sports meeting, other teachers felt that Teacher Song had become more lively, but it seems he had returned to his usual self. The temporary transformation seemed to have expired.

Lao Zhou came over, knocking on Song Fuzhi’s desk. “Don’t work too late tonight. Hurry home; your professor is anxiously waiting.”

Since seeing Shi Zhang at the sports meeting, Lao Zhou had changed “Professor Shi” to “Your Professor.” Every time he mentioned it, Song Fuzhi’s heart would flutter slightly.

Today, it didn’t flutter; Song Fuzhi was indeed a bit tired.

In a way, his feelings were complicated.

On one hand, he felt what he did was right, but on the other hand, he thought he seemed to have been uninteresting from childhood to adulthood.

He loved anime, but from childhood to adulthood, he had been a silent observer. He needed a close friend to drag him to an anime convention.

Now, kids spent the summer playing at anime conventions; teachers danced and performed magic with students; some played the guitar and sang under moonlight; and some confidently skateboarded in the street, boldly pursuing their crushes.

Bright and vibrant colors seemed never to belong to Song Fuzhi’s life.

The students called him “Yama” (King of Hell), and even his parents said he was “too strict.”

Every day, during and after class, coming and going early and late, the days were indistinguishable.

Yet he suddenly felt a bit tired.

Not because of too much work, not because the students were mischievous, but because he envied them a bit.

He envied these happy little rascals who were unafraid of tigers, doing what they loved happily, even daring to drag Teacher Yama to do it with them.

Getting off the bus and returning home, Song Fuzhi’s head felt a bit dizzy. He opened the door and saw a warm light on; his professor sat on the sofa, draped in a faint golden glow.

Instantly, the little cloud of gloom in his heart dissipated.

Shi Zhang sat with one leg loosely folded, reading a book, his glasses sliding down his nose.

Seeing Song Fuzhi return, he casually put the book aside and came over to hug Song Fuzhi naturally.

“You’re back.”

Shi Zhang’s voice was deep and gentle. Song Fuzhi was surrounded by warmth as he was held, and for some reason, he felt his eyes sting a bit.

Song Fuzhi raised his hand and hugged Shi Zhang tightly for a moment, burying his head in the neck’s crook and nuzzling it.

Hugging for two or three seconds, Song Fuzhi released him, took a deep breath, and asked, “Have you had dinner?”

Shi Zhang said, “Yes,” but his gaze didn’t leave Song Fuzhi, who was staring at him gently.

Song Fuzhi went to the study to tidy up some things; there were a few teaching materials left at home. Tomorrow, he planned to bring them back to school together.

There were still two classes left unprepared, but today was too exhausting—mentally exhausting. So, Song Fuzhi didn’t want to work overtime anymore. He left it for tomorrow.

Turning around, Song Fuzhi suddenly saw Shi Zhang leaning against the study door, as if he had been watching him for a long time.

“What’s wrong?” Song Fuzhi tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Shi Zhang walked over, and with his fingers, he lightly brushed the faint tiredness under Song Fuzhi’s eyes. “Tired today?”

Song Fuzhi stood there without saying a word.

Shi Zhang extended his arm, gently pulling Song Fuzhi slightly closer to his chest, and Song Fuzhi leaned into his embrace, his forehead against the side of Shi Zhang’s neck.

After a while, Song Fuzhi hummed softly, “Mm.”

Shi Zhang tightened his arm, holding Song Fuzhi tightly.

He lowered his head and kissed Song Fuzhi’s cheek. Without asking the reason, he just spoke gently, “I’ll fill the bathtub with water; take a bath later to relieve stress and relax.”

Song Fuzhi was stunned for a moment and then suddenly raised his head, smiling. Perhaps it was the first genuine smile from him tonight.

“Your professor’s expensive bathtub, huh?” Song Fuzhi laughed, deliberately adding, “I dare not use it.”

Seeing Song Fuzhi laugh, Shi Zhang finally relaxed a bit.

Shi Zhang let go of Song Fuzhi and turned to the master bathroom. A faint sound of running water came from there, indicating Shi Zhang was preparing.

 —

Song Fuzhi slowly sat down on the edge of the sofa, suddenly feeling the release of all the pressure from his body.

Shi Zhang spent about twenty minutes tinkering in the bathroom. Song Fuzhi was almost dozing off on the sofa when he finally heard someone calling him.

“Come and take a bath.” Shi Zhang smiled. “You look exhausted.”

Opening the bathroom door, Song Fuzhi was almost shocked.

Mist lingered, a pleasant aroma filled the air, and in the spacious white porcelain bathtub floated a layer of fine, light blue foam, resembling the sky found only in fairy tales. The water flowed gently into the pool, creating a soothing sound.

It looked so comfortable.

Song Fuzhi smiled at Shi Zhang and said, “It’s too dreamy; I really dare not soak.”

Shi Zhang said, “Who said the bathtub is useless?”

“I’ll try it first and see if I want to take back that statement,” Song Fuzhi said.

To take a bath, he needed to undress.

Song Fuzhi wasn’t as shy now, considering he had done more intimate things with his lover. However, that was in a dark tent, where there was only touch and no sight. If it were in the light, Song Fuzhi would still feel a bit embarrassed.

Fortunately, Professor Shi understood tact. When he saw Song Fuzhi lifting the hem of his clothes, he turned away from the bathroom, even thoughtfully closing the bathroom door for Song Fuzhi.

Song Fuzhi undressed, neatly folding and placing his clothes aside, and stepped into the bathtub.

The water temperature in the bathtub was just right—very warm. After sitting down, Song Fuzhi realized how large the bathtub was.

He could fully stretch out in it. Not only could he lie down, but there was also enough space for another person beside him.

Leaning against the ergonomic slope, Song Fuzhi exhaled slowly with closed eyes. Finally, he realized that Professor Shi, the big spender, indeed had some taste.

The bathtub might be expensive, but it was genuinely comfortable.

Teacher Song was truly enjoying himself.

“Fu Zhi?” Shi Zhang called him from outside.

Song Fuzhi lazily responded with a prolonged “Hmm,” sounding like a lazy monarch.

“The bathtub has a massage function. You can adjust it with the panel on the right.”

“Oh.” Song Fuzhi opened his eyes and, as per Shi Zhang’s instructions, found a panel on the right.

“Which button is for the massage?” Song Fuzhi asked.

Shi Zhang said, “The one on the far right.”

Song Fuzhi pressed it, but instead of getting a massage, the water behind him suddenly surged with a “whoosh.”

“Not this one!” Song Fuzhi shouted.

Shi Zhang said, “The smallest one is on the right. Did you press the big one?”

Help! This high-tech bathtub had a flaw: it was too complicated. Without a manual nearby, he couldn’t enjoy a proper bath.

Song Fuzhi fiddled with it for a while but couldn’t activate the massage. Instead, he increased the water temperature, activated some kind of surfing, and even started playing music.

“I can’t figure this out.” Song Fuzhi compromised in frustration. “Come in and help me adjust.”

Shi Zhang’s voice came from outside with a hint of a smile: “So, should I come in? You don’t mind, right?”

Song Fuzhi, helpless with this luxurious gadget, said, “No, I don’t mind.”

When Shi Zhang entered, Song Fuzhi was like an inkfish buried underwater, showing only his head.

Still wearing a neatly pressed shirt, Shi Zhang supported himself with one hand on the edge of the bathtub, leaned over Song Fuzhi, and explained the panel functions to him.

Which button did what, and what did each symbol represent?

Song Fuzhi understood after hearing it once.

“Let me try.”

Song Fuzhi wanted to try adjusting the bathtub. With a sudden splash, he sat up, and the water cascaded onto Shi Zhang’s arm, soaking a large portion of his sleeve.

“Sorry,” Song Fuzhi apologized.

“It’s okay,” Shi Zhang unbuttoned his sleeve, “it’ll be washed off soon anyway.”

The translucent sleeves clung to Shi Zhang’s arm, outlining distinct arm contours.

Half-reclining in the hot water surrounded by bubbles, Song Fuzhi looked up at Shi Zhang, noticing his elegant jawline and the water droplets on his Adam’s apple. Suddenly, his heartbeat quickened.

Held by the warm water, Song Fuzhi recalled that night in the tent.

Shi Zhang also embraced him from behind to go to sleep. At that time, Shi Zhang’s body temperature was higher than the hot water and warmer than the sun.

Shi Zhang rolled up his sleeves and said, “I’ll go take off my clothes and wash them.”

“Shi Zhang.”

Suddenly, Song Fuzhi stopped him with a voice that sounded a bit hoarse. “Just take them off here.”