Chapter 66: Exclusive to Jinjiang 1/2

Shi Zhang took the knife to cut the cake, and Lao Song asked with a smile, “Does Shi Zhang like the taste of blueberries?”

“Yes.” Shi Zhang nodded, glancing at Mrs. Wang, and said with a faint smile, “My favorite is blueberry cake.”

“Then Song Xiaoxiao didn’t lie.” Lao Song pointed at Song Fuzhi. “We asked him what kind of cake you liked, and he said you liked blueberries. We didn’t believe him at first. Because Fuzhi has always liked blueberries since he was a child, we were afraid he was fooling us.”

Song Fuzhi chuckled. “Haha, actually… I did say that blueberry is my favorite flavor.”

He turned to Shi Zhang and asked, “Do you also like blueberries?”

Shi Zhang nodded and handed the first piece of cake he cut to Wang Huiling.

“I haven’t talked about this before.” Shi Zhang looked a little embarrassed and glanced at Mrs. Wang. “It’s probably because Mrs. Wang is here; Mrs. Wang probably doesn’t remember.”

Wang Huiling raised an eyebrow.

Song Fuzhi elbowed Shi Zhang, saying, “Tell us.”

When talking about the past, Shi Zhang always seemed a bit unnatural.

After a pause, he said, “On the evening of the last day of the semester in high school, it happened to be my birthday. Other classmates had all gone home, and a group of troublemakers from the neighborhood confronted me at the school gate. I had a fight with them in the alley next to the school.”

Shi Zhang spoke lightly, skimming over the details.

“When the fight was about to end, Mrs. Wang happened to come across us. She was fierce at the time, like a god descending from the heavens, and they all ran away. I was caught by Mrs. Wang and taken to the school infirmary for treatment. Then Mrs. Wang scolded me fiercely.”

Wang Huiling supported her chin. “Ah, I seem to remember…”

After saying this, she looked at Song Fuzhi with a somewhat complex expression of apology.

“You don’t have to apologize. I don’t mind,” Song Fuzhi tried to say.

At this moment, Song Fuzhi finally understood, holding his mother’s hand in his.

Wang Huiling turned to Shi Zhang, saying, “Shi Zhang, the cake I gave you that day was originally meant for Song Fuzhi. It was his birthday the next day.”

Shi Zhang was also stunned.

“That blueberry cake, every time Fuzhi passed by a cake shop, he would say how good it looked. I promised to buy it for him on his birthday. But that day, I had some matters to deal with at school. When I returned, the cake shop had closed, and I forgot to buy it again.”

Wang Huiling smiled. “For this matter, Little Song has been sulking for a long time. I know I haven’t had time to take care of my own child, which is not good. So, I feel quite guilty.”

Song Fuzhi shook his head.No need. You’re a good teacher and a good mom.”

“Wu wu…”

The former mother and son, along with teacher and student, followed the sound, only to find Lao Song sitting alone in the corner of the dining table, wiping away tears.

Song Fuzhi almost burst into laughter and quickly handed him a tissue. “Oh, there you go.”

Song Dad extended both hands, drawing a circle in the air from a point to both sides, bringing his index fingers back together.

“You three are like a circle. Although you’ve walked separately for a long time, reuniting is… very fulfilling, very fulfilling.”

The dinner was emotional, and everyone felt a warm and heavy atmosphere.

No one drank alcohol, but the aroma of tea filled the air, making everyone feel fulfilled from the depths of their hearts.

After dinner, the two kids escorted their parents home.

Mrs. Wang told them to enjoy their birthdays, and Lao Song, standing aside, looked like he was about to burst into tears again.

“Oh.” Mrs. Wang pulled Lao Song back to the room, complaining, “This old man is too sentimental and has developed tear ducts. You two enjoy yourselves.”

Back in the car, the warm and emotional atmosphere lingered.

The two looked at each other, but there were too many words, and they didn’t know where to start.

So they decided not to say anything. Instead, they instinctively leaned in and kissed each other.

Just as they were reluctant to part, someone’s phone rang.

“Mine,” Shi Zhang mumbled against Song Fuzhi’s lips.

They separated a bit, breathless.

Shi Zhang took out his phone, and it was a call from Ouyang Xi.

“My…” Shi Zhang answered. “I estimated I’d be home in twenty minutes. Where are you?”

“I’m already downstairs at your place, Professor,” Ouyang Xi yawned. “Hurry up.”

Shi Zhang hung up, and Song Fuzhi also remembered their plan.

Originally, in the afternoon, they planned to invite friends to a tea house for relaxation. However, now they were still downstairs at their parents’ house.

“Oops.” Song Fuzhi made a sound. “Shouldn’t we go to the tea house now?”

Shi Zhang nodded. “Ouyang Xi had business lunch and drank alcohol. He doesn’t like others driving his car, so I’ll take a taxi to get him. You go to the tea house first?”

It seemed like the only option now, or else it would be too late, and Luo Luli and Zhong Ziyan might already be at the tea house.

They couldn’t leave two guests, who didn’t know each other, unattended. That would be impolite.

Song Fuzhi also didn’t drag his feet and nodded. “Alright. I’ll go ahead and entertain them. You pick up Ouyang and come later.”

Adults acted swiftly and decisively.

Song Fuzhi drove away, and Shi Zhang got into a taxi. Suddenly, his heart started beating faster.

Like a spy, Shi Zhang quickly called Ouyang Xi.

“What are you doing, kid? Forgot about it?” Ouyang Xi urged with a suppressed voice.

“Ah, Lao Chang drove the kids back, and you had lunch, drank, and no one is helping you drive?” Shi Zhang made up a story casually, “Fine, I’ll come pick you up.”

Ouyang Xi sighed, “Hurry up.”

Shi Zhang, with a plan in mind, called a taxi to go home.

That day, he had a tactical plan.

He planned that after lunch with his parents, Song Fuzhi would go to the tea house first, and he would find an excuse to return home.

His custom-made suit, armguards, cufflinks, and his most handy makeup tools were all at home.

He needed to take them out and store them in the friend’s car.

Later in the evening, he would find an excuse to go out again. At that time, he could surprise Song Fuzhi by suddenly returning home fully dressed.

Thinking about it, the usually composed Professor Shi became excited.

Shi Zhang, with a specific plan in mind, entered his home.

He headed straight to his closet; luckily, the character he cosplayed had a relatively normal everyday appearance, so hanging a new suit in the closet wouldn’t arouse suspicion.

Shi Zhang grabbed the suit, then turned to open the door to his study.

His study still had a family photo of his birth parents and siblings neatly laid out on his desk. Shi Zhang silently stared for a second, then calmly placed it in an envelope and tossed it aside.

This little matter wouldn’t affect his mood now.

Shi Zhang opened the drawer of his desk, and inside, there were a pair of gemstone cufflinks and a model gun.

In all other areas of the house, they shared and mixed belongings, but in the study, in an area similar to an office, their desks were opposite each other, completely private.

So Shi Zhang chose to keep the cosplay accessories here, as he believed Song Fuzhi wouldn’t snoop without his permission.

Thinking of this, Shi Zhang couldn’t help but recall that a few days ago, the lock on the bottom drawer of Song Fuzhi’s desk had disappeared.

Though curious, and despite the lack of a lock, Shi Zhang had never dared to look inside.

In his mind, he secretly speculated on what might be inside—perhaps teenage love letters from others; later, he thought it might be money or precious metals.

Of course, without Song Fuzhi’s permission, he would never touch another’s private space.

With these thoughts, Shi Zhang turned to glance at Song Fuzhi’s desk.

In just that one glance, Shi Zhang was stunned.

The bottom drawer was actually open!

His gaze moved upward, and on Song Fuzhi’s desk were several books scattered messily.

Some books were stacked on the side, and one was spread open.

Teacher Song’s desk was always clean and tidy. It was rare to see it in such a messy state.

It seemed like something had been taken from inside, and he was in such a hurry that he didn’t have time to tidy up.

 “Moreover, the imprints on the pages don’t look like words; they resemble entire pictures.

Since everything has been laid out on the table, it’s legal to take a look.

Shi Zhang took a step closer, focusing on those pages.

For a good ten seconds, Shi Zhang even stopped breathing.

He even felt dizzy, like he was in a dream. However, as he leaned in for a closer look again, Shi Zhang only realized what was in front of him.

It turned out to be a cosplay photo of himself from over ten years ago.

The makeup was lacking in many aspects, and he looked young and inexperienced. Shi Zhang couldn’t mistake it for anyone else but himself.

He just felt bewildered.

Shi Zhang’s entire body was numb. He manipulated his fingers to close the book lying open on Song Fuzhi’s table, revealing a familiar and ancient cover.

Damn, it was the first cosplay photo book he released after becoming a cosplayer octopus.

Shi Zhang didn’t know if he had stopped breathing or if he was breathing too quickly.

Trembling fingers pushed aside several other books stacked nearby.

One, two, three…

All of them were octopus cosplay photo books.

Shi Zhang lowered his head and, in the bottom drawer of Song Fuzhi’s desk, found the last one.

On the cover, he looked quite juvenile. Two Shi Zhangs, one old and one young, one in motion and one still, staring at each other,.

Four books in total, all compilations of Shi Zhang’s cosplay when he was in his twenties.

The first book had a limited print run, and Shi Zhang had personally requested copies from the publishing house later on.

…

Shi Zhang silently took out his phone and called Ouyang Xi.

Ouyang Xi asked, ‘What’s up? Did you get everything? ‘

Shi Zhang calmly asked him, ‘What’s your wife’s name? ‘

Ouyang Xi was a bit puzzled but still answered, ‘Chang’an.’

Shi Zhang then asked, ‘What day is it today? ‘

Ouyang Xi replied, ‘It’s your birthday.’

Shi Zhang asked again, ‘What year is it? ‘

Ouyang Xi couldn’t help but snap, ‘…Shi Zhang, are you being silly? ‘

Shi Zhang breathed a sigh of relief and hung up the phone.

Well, this world is real.

Professor Shi silently stared at the books on Song Fuzhi’s table, attempting to explain everything rationally.

His first thought was that these books belonged to someone else and were left here with Song Fuzhi.

Or perhaps Song Fuzhi confiscated them from students?

In any case, it couldn’t be Song Fuzhi’s own collection.

But Shi Zhang noticed that each book had a note attached, with the year and date written in black water-based pen.

It coincided perfectly with the publication year of each of his photo books.

The handwriting on the notes was undoubtedly Song Fuzhi’s. Shi Zhang was too familiar with how Song Fuzhi wrote the number ‘2’…

The only remaining possibility was that these octopus photos were all bought by Song Fuzhi himself.

Shi Zhang took a deep breath, wanting to shout or punch something, but he couldn’t make a sound, and his body couldn’t move.

The tidal wave of questions overwhelmed Shi Zhang.

Did Song Fuzhi like cosplay before? Did he start liking octopuses ten years ago? He collected them so thoroughly; is he a long-time fan of octopuses? Why did he lock these photos in the drawer? Why are they now scattered on the table?

Most importantly, does Song Fuzhi now know that his husband is an octopus? If he does know, when did he find out? If he recognized it, why didn’t he say anything?

Countless questions came like snowflakes, drowning Shi Zhang in complete darkness.

His research-oriented brain had never been overloaded like this. Shi Zhang stood at the center of the storm, where the thunderous beating of his heart covered everything.

The chaotic tide receded with a rush, leaving only one realization firmly imprinted on Shi Zhang’s mind:

Song Fuzhi likes octopus cosplay.

He has liked it for many years.

Realizing this, Shi Zhang’s heart beat hotter and more urgently.

Unbridled, uncontrollable, and chaotic, it couldn’t be calmed.

Since that’s the case, regardless of whether Song Fuzhi knows that he is an octopus or not, the midnight gift tonight becomes particularly important.

Shi Zhang still remembered to calmly put the books back and take things downstairs.

Ouyang Xi leaned against the car and complained, ‘I suspect you fell into a pit! It took so long…’