Chapter 55: Only from Lin Zhi’s body did it flow out…

“The debate topic was ‘Should homosexuality be viewed as normal in society?'” Lu Liu laughed. “The affirmative side won.”

“Ah,” Lin Zhi replied, somewhat empathizing and feeling happy, then asked, “Did Uncle express his views?”

There was a smile in Lu Liu’s eyes as he looked at Lin Zhi. “No, but he was one of the judges in that debate. When he spoke to me and my mom, he kept praising the second speaker from the affirmative side, saying that the girl’s approach to the topic was very appropriate. Her ‘attacks’ on the opposing side were sharp, and she answered their questions without a flaw. It was clear that she had prepared very thoroughly. Later, my dad accidentally overheard something…”

Lu Liu paused for effect, waiting for Lin Zhi to eagerly ask, “He overheard what?”

“Well,” Lu Liu slowly continued, “He overheard the grade counselor saying that the girl had a girlfriend. After her classmates found out, they said some nasty things, and the girl had to visit the school’s counseling office multiple times to relieve the pressure. Later, she gradually stopped caring about others’ opinions and immediately signed up when she saw that debate topic.”

Lin Zhi was stunned. “Wow…”

“Wow what?” Lu Liu chuckled.

“She’s really brave!” Lin Zhi exclaimed.

“Yes,” Lu Liu finally squeezed Lin Zhi’s hand a few times before letting go and soothing him, “You should be braver too. Let’s go, we’re getting off.”

The three parents were scanning the crowd at the exit. When they spotted Lin Zhi and the others, Feng Shuyun raised her hand and waved.

To the parents, it was the first time their child had been away from home for such a long time this semester. It would be a lie to say they weren’t worried or didn’t miss them. However, they had grown up, becoming more mature and independent, and the parents felt proud.

Lin Zhi, Lu Liu, and Yao Wenjing quickly walked up to their parents. Only Yao Wenjing obediently called out “Godfather” first, while Lin Zhi and Lu Liu both greeted each other’s elders politely and restrainedly, before softly calling out “Dad” and “Mom,” their voices filled with longing.

Perhaps fathers’ love was more reserved, as both Lin Qingye and Lu Xueyi only nodded with smiles, while Feng Shuyun smiled brightly and looked at Lu Liu, asking if he was tired or hungry. She then reached out to take his backpack from his shoulders.

Right under Lin Zhi’s watchful eyes, Lu Liu wasn’t about to let his parents carry his backpack like a kindergarten child. He kept insisting that he wasn’t tired, hungry, or weighed down by it… maintaining his image.

Lin Zhi couldn’t help but smile. At the right moment, Lin Qingye patted his shoulder and then patted Yao Wenjing’s, asking if they were tired or hungry… probably thinking that Lin Zhi envied how Lu Liu had his mother’s care, and perhaps worried Yao Wenjing might feel upset.

In reality, Lin Zhi couldn’t help but look at Lu Liu, while Yao Wenjing paid no attention to his oblivious father or his mother, whose appearance he could no longer recall. He acted like a guardian, leaning toward Lin Qingye, “acting coquettish,” just to divert his attention, afraid that Lin Qingye might see the little finger hook between Lin Zhi and Lu Liu.

By the time they left the station, it was already late, and the two families were headed in different directions, so they said their goodbyes at the square.

Lin Zhi felt a little reluctant, and Lu Liu smiled at him, saying boldly, “I’ll come find you… guys in a few days.”

Just as Lin Zhi was about to glare at him, Feng Shuyun chimed in, “If you have time, you can come to our house to visit Lu Liu.”

“Okay,” Lin Zhi immediately switched to a sweet smile. “Goodbye, Aunt.”

When they got in the taxi on the way home, Lin Zhi received a message on WeChat.

【Lu Liu: You’ve never smiled at me like that.】

In the front passenger seat, Lin Qingye was asking if Lin Zhi and Yao Wenjing had encountered anything fun at school, how they got along with their classmates, and Yao Wenjing answered one by one. Somehow, the conversation turned to his senior, and Yao Wenjing couldn’t stop talking. Taking advantage of this, Lin Zhi comfortably texted Lu Liu.

【Lin Zhi: That’s the smile meant for elders.】

【Lu Liu: I don’t have a smile meant just for me.】

【Lin Zhi: How could that be?】

【Lin Zhi: Don’t the smiles when we’re close only belong to you?】

【Lu Liu: … Don’t tempt me.】

【Lu Liu: What should I do?】

【Lin Zhi: What do you mean, what should you do?】

【Lu Liu: It’s been only a few minutes since we parted, and I already miss you.】

Lin Zhi rolled his eyes lightly in the dimly lit car, feeling that Lu Liu’s sweet talk was a bit cheesy, but he liked it.

At that moment, Yao Wenjing nudged his arm and whispered, “Godfather asked how the food is at your school.”

“Ah?” Lin Zhi was momentarily confused. Hadn’t they just been talking about classmates and seniors? How did the topic suddenly shift to the food?

“It’s okay, there are a lot of delicious things, especially that beef pilaf… I…” Lin Zhi almost blurted out that both he and Lu Liu liked it, but he coughed lightly and corrected himself, “I especially like it.”

A few days later, Lin Zhi and Lu Liu finally managed to free up an entire afternoon to hang out.

In the first couple of days after their return, Lin Qingye was very attentive, frequently checking on Lin Zhi and Yao Wenjing, bringing home snack bags from the store for them, letting them play games as much as they wanted, and staying up as late as they pleased.

By the third day, Lin Qingye announced that he was going out with Uncle Li downstairs to play chess, leaving the department store to the younger ones. Lin Zhi and Yao Wenjing had no problem with this and simply moved their gaming from home to the store.

In the following days, Lin Qingye was almost always out, either playing chess, walking the birds, practicing ^[1]Tai Chi (太极) is a traditional Chinese martial art that combines slow, flowing movements, deep breathing, and meditation. It is often practiced for its health benefits, including improving … Continue readingTai Chi, or fishing. Lin Zhi admired him—fishing in the cold winter wind for hours without getting sick. It seemed that Lin Qingye’s health had fully recovered.

So, after several days of lounging, Lin Zhi finally decided to leave the department store to Yao Wenjing and went on a date with his boyfriend.

The meeting place was on the pedestrian street, and Lin Zhi found himself missing the smell of the cold noodle soup from there.

He passed through People’s Park, avoided a child skating who almost bumped into him. The child, round and bundled up, fell on a slope but didn’t seem hurt. He quickly got up and continued skating off stylishly.

There were a lot of people skating here, regardless of winter or summer, Lin Zhi thought.

He put his hands in his down jacket pockets, feeling the vibration of his phone. While walking, he took it out and unlocked it.

【Lu Liu: I’ve arrived.】

Lin Zhi quickened his pace and made a voice call.

“I’m by People’s Park,” Lin Zhi said, “Wait for me for two minutes.”

“Mm,” Lu Liu’s voice, tinged with the sound of wind, indicated he was moving, “Don’t hurry.”

The green pedestrian light flashed twice before turning red, and Lin Zhi, sounding like a live reporter, said, “Ah, I was a step too late, it just turned red.”

“I saw it,” Lu Liu replied.

“Hmm? You saw it?” Lin Zhi asked, realizing as he looked across the street. Through the traffic jam and crowd, his eyes locked onto Lu Liu’s figure. Lin Zhi squinted and smiled. “I see you too.”

The two kept talking across the street, as traffic moved, and for no apparent reason, Lu Liu felt a little anxious. He seemed to hear the sound of wheels scraping the road, and his vision blurred. He squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them to see only a dull gray and the bright red of blood flowing out from Lin Zhi’s body…

“What’s wrong?” Lin Zhi’s expression changed abruptly. Lu Liu’s body swayed suddenly. If it hadn’t been for the streetlight pole beside him, he might have fallen. Lin Zhi instinctively wanted to rush over to help him, but he couldn’t get through. The road that seemed spacious now felt so far away, and with so many moving vehicles between them, Lin Zhi could only clench his fist in frustration and repeatedly ask, “What’s wrong?”

Lu Liu couldn’t hear Lin Zhi’s voice. All he could hear were the pounding beats of his own heart. He felt so suffocated, his head was throbbing, and fragmented images crowded his mind—Lin Zhi in his school uniform, Lin Zhi drinking in a bar, Lin Zhi smiling more painfully than crying—until it all turned into Lin Zhi lying on the cold ground, half his face covered in blood…

“Don’t move,” Lu Liu rasped, as if speaking to someone, “Wait for me to come and get you, don’t move…”