Chapter 31 (2/2)

One Sunday afternoon in late May, Fang Zhaoling would be going back to school later. It happened that their parents were both on a business trip, and Fang Zhaomu was not going to the lab, so she forced Fang Zhaomu to bring her out for lunch and then send her to school.

The siblings went to the new restaurant near Fang Zhaoling’s school. As they were waiting to be seated, Fang Zhaomu suddenly received a text from Song Yuanxun.

“Are you at school?” Song Yuanxun suddenly asked.

Fang Zhaomu glanced at his sister who was sitting next to him. “I’m having lunch outside.”

“With your friends?”

“My sister.”

A minute later, Song Yuanxun texted. “Send me your location.”

Fang Zhaomu’s heart jumped, nearly dropping his phone. He told his sister that he was going to make a call, walking to somewhere less crowded before calling Song Yuanxun.

Song Yuanxun answered very quickly, and Fang Zhaomu heard Song Yuanxun’s voice as well as the airport announcement in the background. His heart that was originally calm now heated up, and he asked Song Yuanxun, “You’re back?”

“Mn,” Song Yuanxun said. “I’m back.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Fang Zhaomu grumbled. “I could have gone to pick you up.”

“I’m doing a sudden spot check,” Song Yuanxun replied. “I’m checking to see if you’ve been obedient.”

“— Ge, it’s our turn!” Fang Zhaoling walked over to look for Fang Zhaomu and called out to him.

Fang Zhaomu hurriedly told Song Yuanxun that he had to go, then hung up and sent him his location.

The server led them to a four-seater booth, and as he removed the extra cutlery sets he was stopped by Fang Zhaomu and asked to leave a set behind. Fang Zhaoling was surprised, and had an expression that was eagerly looking forward to gossip. “Ge, have you found a girlfriend who’s coming to supervise you?”

“A friend is coming, a classmate from the lab in T University.”

“A guy or girl?” Fang Zhaoling interrogated.

“A guy.”

Fang Zhaoling was first disappointed, then asked, “Is he handsome?”

Fang Zhaomu thought about it, then admitted, “Mn.”

“Why didn’t you say that you had a very handsome classmate!” Fang Zhaoling slapped the table.

Song Yuanxun arrived faster than Fang Zhaomu expected. The dishes had yet to come, but the server was already leading him over.

At first, Fang Zhaoling was still telling Fang Zhaomu about her school life. Upon seeing Song Yuanxun, she suddenly fell silent. Fang Zhaomu turned and looked, Song Yuanxun was standing about half a metre away from him and was watching him.

Song Yuanxun was dressed more casually then when he was in school, wearing a T-shirt, pants and sneakers. It was similar to how he dressed at home, and he looked less assertive than usual.

Their eyes met, and Fang Zhaomu felt as though his heart was constricting. Only then did he realised he really did miss him a little, and might be no less than how much Song Yuanxun had missed him.

Song Yuanxun nodded at Fang Zhaoling, then sat down next to Fang Zhaomu. He picked up their list of order and took a look. Fang Zhaomu told me, “Lingling and I had only ordered a few dishes, if there’s not enough, just order some more.”

Song Yuanxun did not stand on ceremony, and asked for the menu from the server. Fang Zhaomu leaned over and looked, then he remembered he had not made any introductions, and told his sister, “This is Song Yuanxun, my classmate.”

Hearing Fang Zhaomu’s introduction, Song Yuanxun looked away from the menu and turned his head towards Fang Zhaomu. A little guilty, Fang Zhaomu added another label onto Song Yuanxun, “He’s the one I’m closest to.”

“You’ve never mentioned it before.” Fang Zhaoling reproached Fang Zhaomu.

Song Yuanxun suddenly cut in, asking Fang Zhaoling, “He’s never mentioned it all?”

Fang Zhaoling told Song Yuanxun, “Fang Zhaomu refuses to say anything about his exchange. He always talks to me about some protein I don’t understand instead, how stingy.”

Fang Zhaomu wanted to speak, but his hand that was under the table got caught by Song Yuanxun.

Song Yuanxun’s palm was very warm, but he did not use a lot of strength. He only gently loosened Fang Zhaomu’s fisted hand and intertwined their fingers together.

“He is very stingy,” Song Yuanxun echoed Fang Zhaoling. “The air ticket on the 4th of May was only 70 dollars cheaper than the one on the 9th, but he insisted on leaving on the 4th.”

Fang Zhaomu wanted to clarify and asked when did Song Yuanxun become someone who beared grudges. It was his tutor who asked him to come back quickly if he had nothing else, and it was not him being stingy. However, his hand was held by Song Yuanxun, and his heart was beating ridiculously fast, so he could not speak even with his mouth open. He only wanted to quickly find an empty room, and kiss and hug Song Yuanxun without any other considerations.