Chapter 65: Exclusive on Jinjiang 1/2

As the final exams drew near, Song Fuzhi and the students focused on their studies. They often stayed up late answering questions during evening self-study, leaving no time to prepare the final set of cosplays.

However, after the exams, Song Fuzhi had about two weeks to shoot, which was considered ample time.

Interestingly, during this time, FuFu’s ranking on the charts never dropped. He steadily maintained the second position.

Some enthusiastic netizens analyzed that this dark horse coser’s success was due to his talent and hard work.

Looking at his videos, with his physique and charisma, the cinematography was excellent, making it hard for his works not to gain popularity.

Combined with his frequent updates—five well-produced works in just a few dozen days—all falling within the points range on the charts, he quickly rose to the forefront. Despite some controversies, his achievements were steadily rising, challenging the top position.

“Wen Qian, despite having a large fan base, has been mostly involved in promotions recently. His serious and genuine cosplaying is limited to the segment where he dresses in women’s clothing and dances.

He excels due to a large number of fans and impressive ranking power, so holding the first position is quite stable for him.

However, Song Fuzhi no longer cares about this ranking. Recently, he noticed that the competition deadline falls after Shi Zhang’s birthday. Therefore, even if he secures the promotional spot, it won’t be useful.

Teacher Song has been too busy to go online lately, working tirelessly and sleeping whenever possible. Professor Shi has also been occupied, and even their intimate moments are squeezed in between their hectic schedules.

During the final exams, Teacher Song finally had a brief rest. After the exams, he had to grade papers, analyze results, and work tirelessly.

For Song Fuzhi from his childhood, the winter break signals the approaching of his birthday. Although he is unsure if he’ll have his parents’ company on that day every year, young Song Fuzhi still looks forward to his birthday.

Now, his birthday holds even more significance for Song Fuzhi.

A little over a week before Shi Zhang’s birthday, Song Fuzhi released his final set of cosplay works. It was the first character he officially cosplayed and the first image in Teacher Zhang’s first Weibo post.

A bewitching figure with long white hair stood amidst falling cherry blossoms. This time, Teacher Fu revealed half of a beautifully aloof face, with a noble golden gaze and a slender figure, and a shining crescent moon on his forehead.

The caption below the video read: “I have come to your starting point.”

Ah, the childhood crush!!
I scrolled through all of Teacher Zhang’s Weibo posts only to find out this is his first time cosplaying!
Oh no, he really loves Teacher Zhang.
FuFu, go for it—I think you’re about to top the rankings!
Teacher Zhang’s birthday is in a few days, so FuFu has been cosplaying from Teacher Zhang’s latest work to the very beginning. Whispering, I think I’ve fallen for it, sob.

Song Fuzhi smiled. “Did I make it too obvious? The audience seems to have figured it out.”

“Fortunately, your withdrawal from the Teacher Zhang fandom was complete,” said Luo Luli, resting her chin on her hand. “If he sees these videos, he’ll probably recognize you immediately.”

“Really…” Song Fuzhi touched his nose, “but back then, I didn’t recognize him for so long.”

Luo Luli raised an eyebrow and said, “Maybe you have face blindness.”

After glancing at the comments for a while, ignoring the criticisms of his cosplay skills, Song Fuzhi exited the app and returned to the browser. There, he found instructions on how to cast the video from his phone to the TV.

“I downloaded a casting app, but many people in the comments say it often has bugs. An HDMI wired connection might be more stable, but then I can’t discreetly put the video up.”

Luo Luli suggested, “Try it at home in advance of the day. You can manage to do that.”

Song Fuzhi looked troubled. “Professor Shi has some free time now, but I don’t have time alone at home.”

Luo Luli thought for a moment: “No problem! On his birthday, we’ll find a way to lure Shi Zhang out and give you time to adjust the equipment at home.”

“God,” Song Fuzhi laughed. “It sounds like a technical challenge.”

For some reason, as Shi Zhang’s birthday approached, Song Fuzhi felt more excited. Sometimes, he couldn’t sleep at night and would listen to Shi Zhang’s breathing for half the night.

However, Song Fuzhi didn’t expect that on a seemingly ordinary afternoon a few days later, when the two were casually sitting on the sofa, snacking, and watching a movie, Shi Zhang suddenly went out to answer a call.

The call was short, and when he returned, Shi Zhang’s expression was calm.

“Shi Zhenglin is dead,” Shi Zhang said.

Song Fuzhi slowly put down the yogurt in his hand and didn’t say a word.

Because for a moment, he didn’t know whether to say “condolences” or “congratulations.”

The funeral was grand, more of a social event than a farewell. Only a few of Shi Zhenglin’s family members were present. Shi Zhang saw his half-brother, who had finally returned to the country, standing expressionless in a corner. Occasionally, the butler would approach him, but he would ignore him.

He was still a young master.

Shi Yan managed the whole situation, skillfully socializing with guests from various fields. When she saw the company’s senior executives, she noticeably became more cautious and strategic.

No one approached Shi Zhang, and he was content to be left alone, hoping for time to pass quickly.

During the formal ceremony, everyone stood solemnly.

Except for Shi Zhenglin’s wife, who sobbed and wept, none of the three children shed a tear.

Dust settled, and regardless of the past’s elegance, squalor, or soaring success, they all transformed into three Chinese characters engraved on the tombstone.

To kowtow in front of the grave, Shi Yan went, the younger brother went, and Shi Zhang stood on the side, just watching, not moving.

Attending the ceremony was the most significant courtesy he could offer.

After the ceremony, a feast was arranged, and guests mingled and moved around. Shi Yan stood next to Shi Zhang, telling him, “Shi Zhenglin was in pain until he died. The cancer pain and even morphine didn’t help. His screams could be heard on all three floors.”

Shi Zhang only said, “Oh.”

Shi Yan smiled a relaxed smile. “Hey, want me to give you something? Company shares and the two apartments in the city center.”

Shi Zhang looked at her in confusion.

“These were originally intended for you by Shi Zhenglin, but you gave up the inheritance, didn’t take a penny, and gave it all to me,” Shi Yan said. “I know you didn’t want his things. He didn’t plan to give you much anyway, and he specified to give it only to you. These things cannot become your marital property.”

Shi Yan said, “Consider it a wedding gift from me to you both—I haven’t said it yet, but congratulations on your recent marriage.”

“It’s still a recent marriage,” Shi Zhang laughed. “How long has it been?”

The two chatted for a while, and Shi Yan was busy greeting other guests.

Shi Zhang didn’t eat much; it wasn’t appetizing in this place. So, he decided to leave the table.”

A courteous old butler in a black Zhongshan suit intercepted Shi Zhang. Shi Zhang recognized him as the personal butler of Shi Zhenglin during his lifetime. In the household, the butler’s authority was even greater than that of Mrs. Shi.

“Mr. Shi instructed me to personally give this to you.”

The butler handed a brown envelope to Shi Zhang.

Shi Zhang’s brow faintly furrowed, but he accepted it.

The envelope was almost weightless, light as a feather.

After leaving the ceremony venue, Shi Zhang tore open the envelope alone on the street.

A photo gently fluttered out.

The photo showed a family of four, each smiling brightly.

The man was a plump foreigner with blonde hair and blue eyes. Two mixed-race children laughed with chubby cheeks, and the woman was embraced in the middle with faint smile lines.

It was easy to recognize that Shi Zhang inherited the sparse features from her. At first glance, it might not be much, but it was quite appealing.

This was Shi Zhang’s birth mother.

On the back of the photo was a passage written in Shi Zhenglin’s handwriting:

“For so many years, she has never come back to find you. It’s not because it’s too far, not because she can’t find you, but because she just wants to stay away from you. You see, she has a new lovely child, a new life. Without you, she can live well.

Your birthday is a nightmare for your mother.”

In a short paragraph, Shi Zhang stood on the roadside for a long time, his expression unchanged.

After a while, he forcefully stuffed the photo back into the envelope, his fingertips trembling imperceptibly.

Even in death, Shi Zhenglin was still retaliating against him.

Retaliating because Shi Zhang couldn’t fulfill his wish to continue the family line.

Shi Zhenglin was ruthless, knowing exactly how to hurt someone deeply with the simplest methods.

Dealing with Shi Zhang only required repeatedly emphasizing his lineage, telling him, “You were born guilty, abandoned by everyone—you have no family.”

Suddenly, Shi Zhang felt that Shi Zhenglin had died too early. He should have been tormented by the disease a bit longer.

Song Fuzhi sat in the car, waiting for Shi Zhang. When she saw him approaching from a distance, alone, and noticed his slightly pale lips and indifferent face, her heart tightened. Song Fuzhi got out of the car to greet him, but before she could open her arms, Shi Zhang hugged her tightly.

In the warm and strong embrace, Shi Zhang closed his eyes, greedily smelling the scent of his beloved, as if grasping the last straw.

Song Fuzhi asked him softly what was wrong, but Shi Zhang didn’t respond. He buried his head in Song Fuzhi’s neck, taking deep breaths as if capturing the scent desperately.

When he lifted his head again, Shi Zhang’s eyes were bright and stable, just as gentle as usual.

“It’s all over now,” Shi Zhang said.

Although Shi Zhenglin tried to cast a lifelong curse on Shi Zhang, he felt he could break free.

With his beloved by his side, he feared nothing.