Arc 2: Chapter 12
Fu Cheng entertained the thought of integrating into society. He listened to the faint sound of fireworks and neighboring noise and clatter outside while hugging one of Lin Yuan’s shirts that he secretly hid.
He had a hope, or more accurately, an extravagant wish.
He thought about how the law stated that he could still appeal after one trial if he wasn’t dissatisfied. Now that he had someone he liked, maybe…… maybe he could give that pair of man and woman another chance.
Fu Cheng didn’t want much, because he never had any expectations for his parents.
Those two people looked excellent to everyone else. Their lives progressed smoothly, and their marriage was the only mistake they made. Still, later they each met their true loves, and separated from each other, so the wrong path was made right.
Now, everything was supposed to be fine. But on that wrong path, they left something burdensome. Since they had already wronged themselves for many years by caring for this burden, this burden was annoying to the point they wished it didn’t exist.
They both wanted to throw this burden to the other party. After Fu Cheng was admitted to Ning City’s No.1 High School, they rented a house next to the school to throw Fu Cheng into, out of their happy family.
They were forced to give him some money because of the law, but that’s all they did.
They treated him worse than a pet. At least a pet would have the care of their owners for their whole lives, but Fu Cheng only had to be given money until he graduated college.
Then, they could completely get rid of this burden, the only stain in their lives.
Fu Cheng listened to the neighboring noise and realized that the elderly couple’s son and daughter had brought their kids to see their grandparents.
He listened to the laughter and caring words of the small children and in his heart, he told himself that he didn’t need care or a happy family reunion. Such requirements were too high for them to achieve. He only needed one phone call.
He only wanted to prove that they still remembered his number.
On New Year’s Eve, thousands of houses in Ning City were lit and it was as bright as the daytime. Warm lights sprinkled over every corner, sweeping away the shadows and dust.
The teenager was also illuminated by the outside light. His exquisite and eye-catching features were highlighted.
He listened to the voices of others, and looked at the lights, but his head was empty.
His heart was empty and his spirit was empty. Fu Chen was like an abandoned city with no one left.
“Dong, dong, dong……”
A sound of knocking was clearly heard by Fu Cheng, but he had no ability to react.
Then the warm and clean voice of the teenager followed. The voice that Fu Cheng was most familiar with.
“Fu Cheng~”
Fu Cheng thought he was dreaming. But even in his dreams, he never believed that he could have a close relationship like this with another. He stood up from the sofa, and like a drowning man grasping at straws, he rushed to the door.
His distinct fingers held the cold metal handle, and Fu Cheng opened the door. Inside was constantly decaying and withering, but the outside was a vast unfamiliar world where a familiar teenager stood at the forefront.
Lin Yuan looked at Fu Cheng and happily smiled: “Fu Cheng~”
Fu Cheng looked back at the other in a daze. Behind Lin Yuan, a young boy and girl were chasing and playing with each other. It was the first time he had seen such a warm but tangible picture, full of vitality and energy.
Lin Yuan saw Fu Cheng’s daze and surprise and he felt a little proud of himself: “You didn’t expect that I would come right? Are you surprised?”
At this moment, Fu Cheng’s mind was in chaos and he lost the ability to think. He mechanically closed the door after Lin Yuan and stared at the other. Slowly, his dark eyes lit up with starlight.
Lin Yuan sat on the sofa and waved to the other: “Fu Cheng, come here quickly. I have a gift for you.”
…Gift?
For…… him?
Fu Cheng stiffly walked over and sat next to Lin Yuan. He watched as Lin Yuan opened a bag and took something out and put it against his face.
Soft like a cloud, with a trace of warmth, but also like a handful of fresh snow.
Fu Cheng’s hands trembled as he stroked the gift. It was a white scarf.
When Lin Yuan laughed, his apricot eyes bent, his eyes shone, and the dimples around his cheeks deepened: “This is what my mom bought for me, but she bought two of them. It’s new, I haven’t used it. You can’t dislike it ah. Next winter, I’ll buy you another one.”
He wanted to bait Fu Cheng with a promise for next winter, and hopefully, Fu Cheng would take the bait.
Fu Cheng didn't say anything. He grabbed a corner of the scarf and closed his eyes and gently rubbed it. He immersed himself in the softness.
Lin Yuan…
If only they met earlier.
【Di! Congrats host, the villain’s blackening value has decreased to 57%.】
Fu Cheng opened his eyes and wanted to smile at Lin Yuan. But when he saw the teenager’s bright and clean smile, he suddenly felt an indescribable nausea.
He had never learned to smile sincerely, and he didn’t know how to smile so that other people would see that he was happy.
How should he smile for the person he liked…….
Fu Cheng didn’t know, nobody taught him.
“En, I…… I don’t dislike it. I really, really like it.” Fu Cheng said hoarsely and a little brokenly. He didn’t want to be perfunctory and face the teenager he liked with a mask, but he didn’t know anything else.
Lin Yuan was originally happy that the blackening value had dropped again, but he noticed that Fu Cheng was a little off and asked worriedly: “Fu Cheng, what’s wrong? It feels like you’re unhappy.”
Fu Cheng nodded, but then shook his head. He stroked Lin Yuan’s hair and finally put on his mask.
“I’m not unhappy. I’m really happy that you’re here. I just don’t know how to entertain you today. You came to see me, and even gave me this nice of a gift, but I’ve always lived alone and I don’t know what to buy for the New Years. Right now I can’t even invite you to eat candy.”
Lin Yuan couldn’t help thinking of the hustle and bustle of the Lin family, and then seeing how Fu Cheng was alone in the house, he felt a pang of loneliness.
“No problem ah, you don’t have to entertain me, we can just talk.” Lin Yuan thought a little, and suddenly happily said: “Fu Cheng, Fu Cheng~ During New Years next year, I can accompany you to buy things. Then you can treat me to whatever you like!”
Fu Cheng didn’t say anything and only smiled faintly.
Next winter was only three hundred sixty five days away for ordinary people .
But for him, it was unreachable.
⋅ ˚ ₊ ‧ ୨୧ ‧ ₊ ˚ ⋅
When school started again, the atmosphere for other classes in Grade 3 was tense, but Class 3 was as relaxed as ever.
A few days later would be Fu Cheng’s birthday. Lin Yuan wanted to celebrate Fu Cheng’s birthday, but as seniors, they didn’t have the time. t/n in China, there are only three years of high school, so Lin Yuan and Fu Cheng are seniors
In the end, he had to skip evening self-study to have a meal with Fu Cheng.
Of course, he prepared a cake and a gift.
Then on Lin Yuan’s birthday, they also had a meal, a cake, and a gift.
Simple and sincere.
Soon, it was time for an exam.
This exam simulated the college entrance exam, so the students were randomly assigned seats instead of ordering by score like before. In an exam room, there were both students with good grades and bad grades.
Fu Cheng was placed in the exam room #9, while Lin Yuan was in exam room #13. As usual, after Fu Cheng finished his exam, he went to wait outside the door of Lin Yuan’s exam room.
This test was very difficult, yet even so, Fu Cheng was still number one in the grade with a ridiculously high score.
Lin Yuan, who had been guided personally by Fu Cheng and the best teachers in the city, also increased his score by ten or so more points.
When the head teacher announced the results, the students of Class 3 erupted into noise. After class ended, a group of students gathered around Fu Cheng and Lin Yuan.
“Brother Fu, Brother Lin, let’s have dinner together to celebrate you two. There probably won’t be a chance to later.”
Fu Cheng was a little reluctant to involve himself with the rest of the people in Class 3, but this kind of get-together was good for his plan.
The dinner was at a nearby restaurant. The group of 18 year old students gathered together in a lively atmosphere and drank a lot of alcohol.
Fu Cheng was a good drinker, and along with two other boys that were relatively sober, they calmed down the other drunkards and called people to pick them up. Then he carried the drunk Lin Yuan on his back and walked back to his house.
He gently placed Lin Yuan on the sofa. Fu Cheng was ready to go to the bathroom to get a hot towel and wipe the other’s face, when the drunk teenager suddenly grabbed him and looked at him with round eyes:
“~~ Where are you going?”
Lin Yuan seemed to blurrily see someone, but also couldn’t really see.
Fu Cheng said softly: “I’m going to get a towel.”
Lin Yuan obediently made a sound of agreement but didn’t let go. He tilted his head and stared at Fu Cheng for a moment, as if trying to identify who was in front of him.
He pulled an unexpecting Fu Cheng onto the sofa.
Now, Lin Yuan immediately recognized the person. It was his husband~
It was Huo Chen~
Lin Yuan was very happy. He looked at the teenager with radiant eyes and softened to the extreme: “Husband~”
The voice was slurred but clear. Fu Cheng was stunned and his pupils constricted.
Lin Yuan skillfully sat on the other’s lap and put his arms around the other’s neck. His face was flushed, and the alcohol made his body fall into a state of ecstasy. His young and energetic body made a few instinctive movements.
“Uncomfortable……”
Lin Yuan’s voice held a hint of sobbing, and his eyes were watery. He looked at Fu Cheng: “Husband, I feel uncomfortable……”