Chapter 71: Exclusive to Jinjiang 1/2

From winter break until now, the festive atmosphere has gradually thickened.

Red lanterns adorned the street lamps, supermarkets played the same “Congratulations on Your Wealth” song on loop, neighbors had pasted Spring Festival couplets, and everywhere was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

With the spring festival approaching, it was time for family reunions.

Song Fuzhi and Shi Zhang rarely had to work, so Mrs. Wang asked them to come home for dinner.

The two walked on the street, planning to buy some New Year’s goods before going to their parents’ house.

It was quite cold this winter, especially in the last few days, with a sudden drop in temperature. Song Fuzhi was dressed in layers, with only his fingertips exposed, turning red from the cold.

In the cold wind, Professor Shi remained elegant.

He was not afraid of the cold, dressed in a long woolen trench coat with men’s leather boots, exuding a strong British style, especially with his glasses, giving him a scholarly appearance.

Song Fuzhi, however, had no time to appreciate the handsome man beside him. He stretched out a small section of his fingertips, stiffly poking at the phone screen.

“If it’s too cold, wait until we get in the car to check your phone,” Shi Zhang suggested.

Song Fuzhi pocketed his phone with a smile, saying, “It’s been several days; why are people still guessing our relationship?”

“What do you think?” Shi Zhang raised an eyebrow, looking at him with a cold gaze. “Who said we’re not familiar?”

Song Fuzhi chuckled twice.

That night, Song Fuzhi left the comment “Not familiar with him” in the comment section and left without looking back, leaving a group of shocked and astonished onlookers.

This development was too unexpected.

First, FuFu cosplayed six characters that Octopus Teacher had previously cosplayed, making it clear in the dynamics that he was a fan of Octopus. Later, Octopus, who never interfered in other people’s affairs, personally spoke up for FuFu, stunning everyone.

As a result, FuFu turned around and said, “Not familiar.”

Oh my, with everything that has happened, you still say you’re not familiar. Who are you trying to deceive?

People fell into a frenzy of speculation and deduction.

There were various speculations, but everyone agreed that Octopus and FuFu were “very familiar.” The only thing they argued about was the nature of this familiarity.

Many people were shipping the CP, but soon someone argued that Octopus had posted artistic photos with his real-life husband on Weibo. Their relationship was so good. Moreover, when Octopus retired from the industry because of marriage, it was unlikely that his husband was also in the same circle, so FuFu was probably just a good friend.

CP fans argued loudly, saying, “Even if they’re friends, the married vibes in their interactions are more obvious than my parents’! How can you say they are pure friends?”

But as for the exact nature of their relationship, without the two parties admitting it, no one could be sure. After that incident, neither FuFu nor Octopus said anything. Like a grand fireworks display that was over, they returned to their low-key daily lives.

Fans were anxious and frustrated. These two were so bad, how can they just ignore us?

Netizens were jumping up and down, while the two protagonists calmly picked up New Year’s goods at the supermarket, enjoying the quiet and peaceful days.

They knocked on the door of their parents’ house, carrying bags of goods.

Mr. Song smiled and opened the door. At first glance, they saw red paper-cut window decorations and a red Chinese knot hanging beside them.

Lowering their heads, they saw that even the socks on the old man’s feet were bright red.

A complete set of limited-edition skins for the Spring Festival.

It was so vibrant that Shi Zhang was stunned.

“Change your shoes and come in.” Mr. Song took the things, inviting them in.

Song Fuzhi, looking at Shi Zhang’s seemingly shocked expression, smiled and whispered, “This is how our family is. The New Year must be lively and traditional.”

After a while, Shi Zhang fully understood what “lively and traditionally” meant.

Mrs. Wang took out a thick bag and handed it to Shi Zhang.

Shi Zhang took it, and it felt quite heavy.

Mrs. Wang patted Shi Zhang’s hand, saying, “Zhang’er is in his zodiac year this year; wear something red. It can ward off evil and bring peace, health, and safety. Ah.”

Shi Zhang opened it and saw red autumn clothes, red pants, red socks, a red scarf… and even red underpants.

Song Fuzhi stifled a laugh.

“Thank you, Mom.”

Shi Zhang’s expression was somewhat subtle, but he was quite moved inside.

Gifts from elders were very practical, filled with the most traditional and sincere blessings, simply wishing for the children’s safety every year.

Mr. Song then brought out a small flat bag and gave it to Song Fuzhi. “Yours.”

Inside were just a pair of red underwear. Song Fuzhi asked with apparent seriousness, “Why is mine so little?”

“You’re not in your zodiac year.” Mrs. Wang glanced at him with a faint rebuke.

She continued, “Or, what do you want? Every year we don’t know what to buy for you. You don’t have any interests or hobbies. Birthday gifts and New Year’s gifts are not easy to choose.”

Shi Zhang glanced at Song Fuzhi on the side.

No interests or hobbies?

Song Fuzhi answered his mother, “Red underwear is fine.”

“Thank you, Mom.”

After giving out the gifts, the elderly couple went to the kitchen to prepare the dishes, leaving the two children in the living room.

“Mom said you don’t have any interests or hobbies?” Shi Zhang asked Song Fuzhi. “Don’t your parents know?”

Song Fuzhi didn’t expect Shi Zhang to ask this. “Ah,” he said.

He smiled. “They really don’t know.”

Song Fuzhi leaned against the armrest of the sofa, stretching out his long legs. He had loved sitting like this since childhood.

“When I was a child, they didn’t have much time to supervise me, so they didn’t know I secretly read manga. Then, I went to college in another city, came back, and rented a house on my own. They rarely visited my solitary home; even though there were many figurines inside, they didn’t know.”

“Oh,” Shi Zhang nodded, then asked, “Didn’t you think about telling them?”

Song Fuzhi smiled. “They are getting old. Can you imagine me suddenly going to my mom and saying, ‘Mom, I want you to buy me manga books’? She might think I’ve gone crazy.”

The scene seemed amusing to think about.

“Besides, my dad is a doctor, and my mom is a teacher. They are pretty traditional, and I don’t know if they would accept these new things,” Song Fuzhi said. “But my mom has received your manga books, Mr. Shi.”

Shi Zhang coughed.

“Did Teacher Wang know that you play cosplay?” Song Fuzhi asked.

“She doesn’t know,” Shi Zhang laughed. “We used to play secretly off-campus.”

Song Fuzhi shrugged. “See, we only dared to do it secretly in front of Teacher Wang.”

Lunch was plentiful, with fish and meat on the table, and the family enjoyed a cheerful conversation.

Seeing his dad in such a good mood, Song Fuzhi’s father’s smile never faded.

The TV happened to be airing a domestic family-friendly TV series, with a large family taking a group photo in a photo studio.

Song Fuzhi’s father suddenly said, “Hey, let’s take a family photo for the New Year too.”

Mrs. Wang tossed a shrimp into Song Fuzhi’s father’s bowl, saying, “We can do it if you want.”

Shi Zhang was somewhat intrigued. He instinctively straightened his back; he had never taken a family photo.

Song Fuzhi glanced at Shi Zhang, paused for a moment, and said, “I think we can do it! Find a photo studio and take a New Year-themed photo.”

Song Fuzhi’s father said with a triumphant smile, “My son agrees.”

“Okay, let’s do it.” Mrs. Wang smiled and then turned serious, looking at Shi Zhang and Song Fuzhi. “You two, haven’t taken wedding photos since you got married, have you?”

Both were stunned.

“Right,” Song Fuzhi’s father added, “I’m not talking about the marriage certificate. I mean those artistic photos hanging on the bedroom wall, the ones with frames.”

Song Fuzhi had seen his parents’ wedding photos since childhood.

“That was when Mom and Dad were very young, a shy and handsome doctor paired with a bright and elegant teacher. The scene was vintage and elegant, very beautiful,” Song Fuzhi said. “Yeah, we haven’t taken wedding photos.”

Shi Zhang looked over. “Should we?”

Thinking about it, these two men in their thirties hadn’t taken many photos together.

Selfies and such were the habits of young people going out to play; they mostly used their phones to capture scenery.